Re: Berlin Wall in Film
Sat, 16 Jan 1999 13:02:11 -0600
>There is a class concentrating on the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. Can
>you help with feature films and documentaries which have images of the air
>lift, check point Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Post WWII Berlin, and pulling
>down the wall.
Feature films: Gotcha! (1985) - a mostly forgettable teen comedy in which
Anthony Edwards gets involved with a Czech graduate student, Linda
Fiorentino, who actually turns out to be a Soviet spy. They have many
adventures in Berlin, including a rare comedic moment at Checkpoint Charlie)
Wings of Desire (1988) -- for images of West Berlin in the 1980s
Berlin Tunnel 21 (1981) - Richard Thomas stars in this TV movie about man
who helps build a tunnel under the wall. Based on a real story
The Wall (1992) - Concert footage of Roger Waters, and others, performing
Pink Floyd's The Wall at the Berlin Wall.
Novemeber Days (1992) - Marcel Ophuls tracks down East and West Berliners
who were caught on news camera the first night people were allowed to pass
freely through Checkpoint Charlie. A very interesting documentary. As
usual, Marcel clumisly asks personal questions -- he seemed especially
interested in knowing if any of those celebrating got laid that night.
There are also dozens of documentaries about Berlin right after the war,
the Berlin Airlift and beyond. Most of these, though, are standard one-hour
one-offs, or are part of series (i.e. History Television in Canada airs a
series called Turning Points in History. One episiode concentrates on the
Berlin Airlift as a "turning point" that lead to the Cold War).
Darryl Wiggers
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Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the
University of Alabama.