photos: Roger Sabaté.
Like countless others in early March, I certainly didn’t expect the extent of the impending pandemic. Fearing it would interfere with my long-awaited vacation, I actually stayed in denial of it for as long as I could. But the ominous news screens incessantly broadcasting Corona updates which had followed me across San Francisco ultimately proved fateful as I ended up booking an emergency flight back to Berlin.
Coming back in times of a worldwide pandemic made me consider Berlin home more than ever before. Having been here for over four years now, I’d already mused on the reechoing metaphor of Berlin as a lover and even written on staying committed to the city over time. As I was coming back, I’d ask myself whether experiencing Berlin in this bizarre Corona edition will affect my love for it. Certainly, I’d never seen the city like that: with deserted streets, sealed off clubs, and a ban on gatherings.
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by Michalina | Stories
After his lovely poetic film Berlin, Berlin: Autumn, talented filmmaker Nehemias Colindres follows up with another beautiful Berlin film focussing on another special season of the year: Spring.
The lovely film perfectly captures this feeling of waking up and getting excited that we also feel every Spring when the temperatures rise and the trees start to blossom. There is something so magical about the season filled full of hope and anticipation for the following months that will be filled with cheerful times spent with friends hanging out by the river and chasing through long, warm nights. Especially the last couple of weekends felt exactly like that and we can’t wait for more of these lovely Spring days.
Enjoy the beautiful film!
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by Frank | Videos
photo: Tonkberlin / CC
Berlin, are you ready for the Spreepark to finally (legally…) open its gates again?! You probably heard some stories of this abandoned amusement park in the Southeast of Berlin, but we got the real crazy sauce for you. So, why was it abandoned and how come no-one ever tore it down? And how can you get in there to see some of the crazy old rides of the park? Let’s start from the beginning.
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by Franziska | Stories
Berlin is kind of a tough city for cinephiles, especially for those of us that (still!) don’t speak German. American films usually come out months later in Germany, and foreign films are either dubbed or subtitled in German. The biggest movies of the year usually come out in December, meaning that some titles still aren’t available in Berlin until February, March or even later, well after the awards have been given. And forget about downloading them (unless you have a VPN)!
But there is a bright side: the Berlinale is one of the film industry’s most prestigious festivals, and it’s actually the largest one in the world, based on annual attendance. Our international community is in luck because all the films are subtitled in English (and German too, sometimes). Instead of being late to the party, the party actually kicks off here: many of these are world premieres, without distribution deals even. So it really is a treat to attend a Berlinale screening.
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by Keith | Movies
After one particular night of slow dancing that ultimately resulted in me exploring the contents of somebody’s nightstand the next morning, a book was lent to me. Although this incident happened well over a year ago, I just somehow never got past the cover. Last month I thought that the Christmas break would be as good a time as any to give those pages a go.
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by Michalina | Stories
Back in early 2019, a movie trailer made the rounds that Berliners shocked and shaken. I’m talking about the Berlin, I Love You film starring Keira Knightly, Helen Mirren, Mickey Rourke. Our friends from Mobile Kino wanted to give all of you who never actually saw the controversial film but still wrote badly about it on the internet the chance to finally catch up and see what the fuzz is all about in an “ironic screening” on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2020, at their new temporary location at Alte Münze.
To give you the facts first: The film is a continuation of the Paris, Je T’aime and New York, I Love You format that is basically a string of unrelated love stories happening in one place and shining the light on the biggest, tackiest cliches of the respective city. Each story is like an episode and it has different, directors, cast and crew. The Berlin one has Chinese artist Ai Weiwei (who directed his episode remotely via Skype back in 2015), as well as German actor/director Till Schweiger and Dani Levy in the line-up of directors. Further famous actors include Luke Wilson, Orlando Bloom, Patrick Dempsey, Renée Zellweger, as well as German actors Sibil Kekilli, Hannelore Elsner, Robert Stadlober and German supermodel Toni Garrn.
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by Frank | Movies
Are you curious to spy what happens on the streets of a miniature Berlin on a single day? The six-minute long Minilook Berlin video will give you the chance to be an external spectator who checks out a teensy Berlin from the sky.
After the stunning Little Big Berlin video we felt the need to experience once again the fascinating urban atmosphere of these incredible city streets. This time as well, everything you are expecting will be served: grey skies, crowded roundabouts, and of course Berliners running around like proper ants.
The Minilook Berlin project is realized by Efim Graboy and Daria Turetski using 42,069 still photos. It was made during the past 2 years with help from Berlin people and their balconies.
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by Giulio | Videos
Every time I spent a longer period of time abroad, staying in big cities always make me aware of what I appreciate the most about life in Berlin. Granted, it is exciting to roam through the restless streets of Bangkok or indulge in some ice cream while watching the sky go up in flames at sunset hour in LA, but never would I trade in Berlin for any other city in the world. Maybe this feeling can be blamed on the fact that I grew up here, but I believe that if you fell for Berlin once, you will stay incurably in love for the rest of your life. Below I put my feelings into words, summing up what I missed most about Berlin while visiting busy cities on the other side of the world.
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by Franziska | Stories
One motif recurring in all kinds of Berlin-related memes is the metamorphosis one is supposed to go through after living in Berlin for a certain amount of time. The emphasis is usually on the stark contrast between the person’s initial chastity and beauty and the result of the transformation – most often symbolized by an ugly mess in some form.
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by Michalina | Stories
You know Berlin is a place of contrasts. It’s the buzzing startup hub that’s also been referred to as a retirement center for freelancers in their 30s. Fashion weeks are organized here biannually and yet the most prevalent look on Berlin’s hippest streets is along the lines of a scruffy grunge musician. It’s hailed as the city where people can search for themselves, but many seem to get distracted along the way and end up losing their minds. All these dynamics can make everyday life in the city that we still truly heart slightly absurd. Below, we’ve chosen our favorite examples of people channeling Berlin’s flaws into anecdotes that will most likely ring true to you as well.
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by Michalina | People, Videos
