Wrap Up - Berlin You Will Be Missed.

     After spending 4 months studying in Berlin, I have been lucky enough to learn about the ways Germans entertain themselves. From soccer games to late-night clubbing, there is something for everyone. Upon arrival in February, I felt excited to explore a new city but scared to experience the unknown. Luckily, I had a fantastic group of friends who were just as eager as I was to do everything we could in the time we were there.  

    After seeing Berlin change from winter to spring and then the early bits of summer, it was cool to see the way it sprouted and opened up into a flourishing and bustling city. The view I had from my room looking out to the trains running in and out of Jannowitzbruke Station all day and night reminded me of how alive the city was. People were going everywhere at all times of the day because, in a city like Berlin, anything is possible. It is a place where a vibrant entertainment culture that offers nightlife, sports, festivals, museums, and celebrations of all kinds thrives. I quickly came to realize that every single person indulged in some type of entertainment daily. Whether it was heading to the park after work or to the sports bar to watch soccer, I felt that there was community everywhere. People always came together to enjoy entertainment and I really valued that.

    In each place that I went for entertainment, it felt like there was a collective agreement to live in the now and to embrace the people around you. The nightlife was the most prominent example of this because people came dressed in unique outfits and there was an openness to be yourself. Nobody judged you and everyone was there to have fun and enjoy the music. The parks were also a place where you could go to enjoy yourself while in the company of strangers. My favorite experience was a Sunday in early May when the weather was warmer so a lot of people were out. There were kids playing on the playground, people sitting by the pond, people eating, drinking, running, walking dogs, playing basketball, skating, and more. Everyone was enjoying and entertaining themselves differently but in the same place and it really showed me that there was a big sense of community in the city.

    Berlin is also exciting because it offers an extremely rich history. It is a classroom that I was lucky enough to learn in. Almost every place you go you are reminded of what happened there and how it fits into our world history. I went on many excursions with my school to learn about the history of the city, such as the Alte Museum, Bebelplatz, or just a seemingly normal street road that once held Holocaust Victims. Every corner you turn, there is something to be learned. 

    Although large, Berlin gives one the opportunity to find different types of entertainment in a close vicinity. You can find yourself wandering Museum Island one second and then eating döner across the Spree in Monbijoupark with your friends the next. Don't be surprised if you walk through a flea market or street performance on the way. Berlin also offers one of the best transportation systems in the world, so getting to Tiergarten or the Brandenburg Tor would be a quick trip. I always enjoyed walking from my school building to the Hackescher Markt station because there was always something to see, hear, or smell. I also enjoyed going to the sports bar to watch Premier League games with my friends. The bar was always packed and it was really fun to be in a country where the most popular and loved sport was soccer. It was exciting to see and hear all of the locals cheering for teams. Watching soccer was not the only way I got to enjoy the sport, though. By far my absolute favorite experience was joining a local football club called Berolina Mitte. I truly emerged with Germans and all of the practices were in the language. I became friends with my German teammates and learned more about the lifestyle of German people. My teammates differed a lot in age and it showed me that everyone turned to soccer for fun, no matter what was going on in their outside life. 

I am lucky that I got to experience all that is in Berlin. It is a city with vast opportunities for everyone and I cannot wait to go back to experience more of what there is to offer. It is a never-ending place of entertainment of all types from movies to markets to museums and more. The city taught me more about myself -  I am smarter and braver than I thought, but I also am vulnerable and still learning about life. I am grateful for the experience and would do it again if I could. Four months is not nearly enough time to spend in a city but it just means I have to go back soon! 

Entertainment - Labor Day (May Day)

 

    Last weekend, Berlin was granted some beautiful weather which was perfect as the city was celebrating Labor Day, also known as May Day. Every year on May 1st, many European countries celebrate laborers, the working classes, and the struggles and success of unions throughout history, just like we celebrate ours in September. The US Department of Labor Blog explains that "In 1889, an international federation of socialists and trade unions in Europe decided to create a similar holiday: International Workers’ Day (or Labour Day) to be celebrated on May 1 of each year, a tradition that continues to this day in more than 60 countries." (https://blog.dol.gov/2022/08/19/labor-day-around-the-world). The public holiday in Germany is known as Tag Der Arbeit, which means Day of Work in English, but in Berlin, there is a special meaning to May Day and it originates from the events that took place in 1987. At the time, Kreuzberg (a neighborhood in Berlin), was a poor neighborhood that can be categorized by migrants, guest workers, artists, and students. On May 1st, riots broke out between many leftists and police, ending in flames and destruction of the neighborhood - this is called a Kiezaufstand - or neighborhood uprising. Since then, the May Day celebrations have changed and shifted multiple times but are nevertheless filled with passionate people and groups of activists demonstrating. On the other hand, MyFest is celebrated on May 1st as well and was established in 2003 to counteract the violent demonstrations with peaceful celebrations including music, dancing, and food.     

    Since May Day is a public holiday in Berlin, my friends and I decided to head over to Oranienplatz to see what was going on. Our school sent out an email that read: 

"We would like to remind you that Germany’s Labor Day is coming soon: May 1st. It is an official holiday, so most shops are going to be closed. The IES Abroad Berlin Center is closed as well. 

There might supposedly be demonstrations going on throughout the city. Although most of the demonstrations are peaceful, some can get dangerous, especially those taking place in the evening. Use your common sense and avoid getting involved in any demonstrations.

 

Please notice the CISI alert below: Germany (Severity - Low): Workers' organizations plan demonstrations in multiple cities on May 1 to mark Labor Day" 

    This email speaks to the political landscape of Berlin, as it has always been a city filled with multiple viewpoints and contrasting beliefs. Even after the unification, activist groups will show up for what they are passionate about even if it could get violent. I believe this culture also parallels American culture in a way, as there have always been political protests and demonstrations throughout our history too. Up until this day, large activist groups come together to celebrate and demonstrate issues like abortion rights, women's rights, police brutality, gun control, etc. Protests have also turned violent as well where stores have been looted and set aflame. This shows that although countries may have contrasting political landscapes, people and societies act together, and standing up for what you believe in has no borders. 

    We entered the celebrations and there were a lot of people outside sitting on the grass, food vendors, music, and dancing. Although there was a police presence, it wasn't overwhelming (yet). We grabbed some Indian food and sat in the grassy area while a group of women dressed in traditional clothing performed a dance. I could not make out from which culture they belonged but my friends and I guessed Syria or some other middle eastern country. They dance and sang while being surrounded by a crowd of interested spectators. After, we headed over to. a stage where performers were singing and dancing in front of a large crowd. The performers sang Turkish, Italian, Spanish, and so many other types of music. After a while, we decided to walk home because we did not want to be involved in the demonstrations if they did turn violent. All in all, May Day seemed more like a festival than a violent demonstration, but we also left early in the day and did not see what the night held so I am not sure. People seemed laid back and relaxed and used the day to drink and have fun with friends (as Germans do on many national holidays). 

    This is similar to America, where many Americans celebrate their day off by having barbeques, drinking with friends and family, and taking advantage of Labor Day sales. It also signifies the end of summer, as many schools begin after this day.  The date of our September celebration contrasts with Europe's May 1st celebration because President Groover Cleveland declared it in September. He was one of those concerned that a labor holiday on May 1 would tend to become a commemoration of the Haymarket affair and would strengthen socialist and anarchist movements that backed the May 1 commemoration around the globe.^[19] In 1887, he publicly supported the September Labor Day holiday as a less inflammatory alternative,^[20]" 

    

    I am glad we got to discover what May Day was about in Berlin. Although we only saw one little part of it, it was fun to see how so many cultures and people merged together in one area to celebrate. Berlin is different than the rest of Germany, (people always say it is not Germany at all) which I sometimes find true. It is so different than traditional cities like München, but it is cool to see how the city assembles despite everyones differences, 

Entertainment - Festivals

   

 Eager to see more of Germany, I visited Munich last weekend for Frühlingfest (or Spring Fest). It was a school-organized trip so most events were planned for us which was pleasant. I was excited that we were able to be in Munich for the festival because I have always wanted to experience Oktoberfest and this festival is known as the "little sister" to Oktoberfest. 

To compare the two, Oktoberfest has 16 huge beer hall tents, while Spring Fest has only 2! The Frühlingfest was established in 1965 after Mayor Albert Bayerle wanted a festival for kids and young people. Since then, the fest, which lasts 17 days each year, has brought in people from all over who just cannot wait for Oktoberfest!

    When my friends and I arrived at the festival, we were taken aback by the size. It was held at a place called Theresienwiese, a HUGE fairground that is also the home to Oktoberfest To put the size of the ground into perspective, it is about 60 soccer fields big. There is a giant Flea Market, a Car parade, carnival rides and games, and a lot of food and drinks! My friends, I decided to dive into the fleamarket first and look around. People were selling clothes, jewelry, shoes, antiques, and artworks. You could really find almost anything under the sun at this market simply because it was huge! I decided to head into the carnival area so that I could meet one of my WS soccer teammates in one of the Beer Halls. Being abroad gives people the chance to travel to different cities at a more affordable price, so Emily was able to come from Copenhagen for the weekend I happened to be there as well. Navigating into the Beer Hall was tricky due to the sheer amount of people there, especially kids running around and parents chasing after them. When I finally made my way to the tent, I was hit with an overwhelming feeling - table after table lined the floor and a big main stage was occupied by a band playing traditional music. Nevertheless, it was exciting to see the full tables and the hustle and bustle of waiters carrying 6 HUGE glasses of beer to their tables. 

  I was able to locate Emily at her table and my first thoughts were that I did not dress appropriately. Almost EVERYONE was wearing traditional clothing, which is either a Dirndl for women or Lederhosen for men. These are traditional Bavarian outfits that people wore to both Spring and Oktoberfest, so my lack of preparation and participation definitely came back to bite. Everyone was singing to the music and at one point people were standing on the tables chugging their beers as fast as they could while being applauded by the entire hall. I think a lot of people were Americans or international visitors because they know how renowned the festival is and would like to visit.    

    The same day I returned when it got dark in order to see the festival with all of the lights. Although I am 21, I was still excited to ride the rides because it is something I haven't done in a while. I went on the really high swing ride and it was so cool because I was able to see so much of München at night! The carnival was extremely crowded and at this point (it was full of teenagers and hard to get around) so my friends and I decided to head over to Hofbräuhaus München! This beer hall is known around the world because it dates back to the 16th century and has been producing beer for centuries. It also is an important historical site as it once held Nazi Rallies where Hitler promoted his National Socialist Party in 1920. The Haus was pretty busy but we were able to sit in the beautiful courtyard to enjoy some beer. It was a fun night and seeing so many people out in München made it a really enjoyable time!

    I am really appreciative we were able to go to München for a trip as it is now one of my favorite cities and I will definitely be back soon! The Frühlingfest is something I am going to recommend to everyone. Even though it is not as big as Oktoberfest (6 million people come to München each year for Oktoberfest!!) it is still so enjoyable and you are bound to have a fun time. It is funny that beer and drinking can really bring a community together and now people all over the world come to one city to celebrate! 

 

Entertainment - Museums

    

    A big form of entertainment for people is museums because they are a way for people to observe the history of not only the city they are in but from all over the world. Berlin is special because of the number of museums available for people to explore. There is a famous museum hub in the center of Berlin called "Museum Insel" or Museum Island, which has 5 museums and this is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This area is always busy with people, and most are not Berliners but this shows the attraction that Berlin has to international audiences. There are around 170 museums in Berlin and what is really nice is that many museums or free or they offer a pass that allows you to go to a lot of museums for a one-time fee. 

    In my program, I am taking a class called 'Museums and Memories" and I have had the opportunity to go to many cool museums with my class. I have been able to go to the Nueus Museum, the Pergamon, the Humboldt Forum, and the Topography of Terror. It is interesting to see how the public history and memory of Berlin are practiced and put on display in museums. Each museum has different exhibitions or collections on display that are focused on different themes. For example, the Pergamon has three collections:

1. Antikensammlung (Collection of Classical Antiquities) - like Green and Roman antiques

2. Vorderasiatisches Museum (Museum of the Ancient Near East)

3. Museum für Islamische Kunst (Museum for Islamic Art)

The Nueus Museums presents two fascinating collections:

1. Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung (Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection)

2. Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte mit Objekten der Antikensammlung

(Museum of Prehistory and Early History with objects from the Antiquities Collection) 

  There are many more different types of collections throughout the other museums. I have enjoyed my Museums and Memories class because we have been learning and investigating how museums in Berlin specifically present their own history. This is a complicated subject because Germany has been involved in a very fatal and destructive history. There are also parts of German history that are not widely acknowledged/recognized - like their colonial past in Africa and the genocide of the Nama and Herero people. Recently though, Germany has been working to come to terms with their past through museum exhibitions. There is a word in German -  Vergangenheitsbewältigung - which means coming to terms with the past. This is something Germany has most definitely needed to do, especially with the events of the second world war and the genocide of millions of innocent people. Their response to WW2 and the holocaust has been approached with an attitude of it never happen again, which is why there are so many museums dedicated to the victims and horrors of the war. On the other hand, there are also places that are not dedicated to the victims but rather work to educate the people about the perpetrators of history. The Topography of Terror is known as a "documentation center," not a museum or memorial because it focused on the SS and Gestapo and the terrors and war crimes they committed. This is a different approach to history but is a good example of how Germans are presenting their past to the people and coming to terms.

    The Humboldt Forum is an interesting topic because there has been a lot of debate on it and its purpose. I would recommend reading about the history of the palace and the controversy today (link to great article on Humdolt Forum) because it is hard to cover the entire topic. Essentially, the place where the forum now stands was once a "Schloss" or palace for the royal family of the Prussian Empire then it was rebuilt after being damaged from the war. Its construction was debated also (not many Berliners are very happy with how it looks because it does not blend into the city well) and in the end, was decided it would house the forum. In an attempt to come to terms with the past, the forum is actually under a lot of fire because" instead of practising ‘openness’ and ‘multi-perspectivity’ artworks and the question of their origins were to be buried ‘like atomic waste’. Savoy pointed to a fundamental contradiction: the palace proved that historical reversals were possible, but those demanding the restitution of objects robbed by colonial powers were told that history couldn’t be reversed" (Müller). When I visited the Humboldt Forum with my class, there was a display at the entrance of the "Ethnological Museum" which was the forum's attempt at showing people that it is acklowdgeing their past and that the artifacts (not all) in the forum were stolen or taken from other countries (like the Benin Bronzes). It did have sufficient context in explaining the history of Germanys' colonization and recognizing their wrongs, so I do believe it is a step in the right direction but this needs to be expanded to the rest of the museum.  There is a lot more to discuss on this topic and how museums in Berlin Practice public history but it most definitely would not fit into this blog. I would definitely recommend watching this video - Chimamanda Adichie on the Humboldt Forum because it gives good insight about what is right and wrong when practicing public history and how it pertains to the forum. 

    I have learned so much in Berlin through discovering museums and I am really looking forward to visiting more. I recommend shifting your perspective the next time you visit a museum and asking yourself questions such as "To whom do these artifacts really belong?" and "What is the story behind them?"

 

Entertainment - Sundays

    I have been able to experience many Sundays in Berlin to see the way in which Germans relax and entertain themselves. On Sunday, many stores are closed so it is a day when many individuals and families spend time outside. Now that the weather has been getting warmer, more and more people gather in outdoor green spaces to spend their days playing, eating, and drinking. There is an amazing park near my apartment called Volkspark Friedrichshain that I have gone to many times to run during the colder months to run but have been able to enjoy more for relaxing as it gets warmer here. This park has trails for running and walking, lots of green space, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and tennis courts, a track, a playground, a restaurant, a cafe, and a pond.  The past two Sundays I have walked to the park to enjoy it with my friends. Upon entry, I saw many dogs with their owners playing fetch (there are SO many dogs off-leash in Germany!), kids on bikes and skates, people playing guitar in the grass, and people jogging. Deeper into the park there is a playground that was full of kids of different ages climbing and swinging as their parents watched from a distance, and there were many people by the pond and sitting at the restaurant/cafe enjoying a beer or coffee. I sat with my friends at a table and we turned on music, journaled, and chatted. It was fun to sit and watch all of the different people go by doing different things to enjoy themselves. 

    Another Sunday, my friends and I headed down to the River Spree to enjoy "Holzmarkt 25" which can be described as a cultural center. It is hard to even describe so here is a link so that you can see more about it, but it has food, drinks, clothes, and shopping.  The crowd was definitely more of an artsy, alternative younger-ish group (not any older people really) We sat down by the water and just chatted and enjoyed the sun. The day we went was called "Vegan Sunday" so the food being served was 100% vegan and it was really fun to see the unique and creative food being served. One thing that my friend Oscar ate was a carrot hotdog - I am not sure I would enjoy this but it looked decadent and he said it was yummy. Other foods being sold were vegan Pizza, ice cream, and other things I am not sure I could identify. I am not vegan at all so I had to leave to eat other food but spending time there was very cool and unlike anything in America. 

    One thing I noticed that is different in Berlin than in America is that nobody was on their phone at Holzmarkt or the park - when I took a few videos and pictures I was pretty much the only one doing that. Everyone was totally just enjoying the day outside and with their families rather than documenting the experience on their phones. In America, there would be more people using their phones to take videos or record themselves and it was refreshing to see people living in the moment. Berlin also has way more parks which give the city a bigger sense of community and togetherness. Although Americans spend time outside in warmer months and on weekends, there are considerably fewer parks (at least in my experience) where people go solely for leisure. If there are parks they are generally smaller and people are more separate( again, in my experience). The playgrounds are also different because the kids are climbing and given a lot of independence to take risks. In America, there are way more regulations and safety measures so that no kids get hurt, and the parents are watching their kids more closely. The other thing I find funny and am jealous of is how many dogs are off-leash and the owners do not care. The dogs are very obedient and do not run off to other people or other dogs and it is really nice because other people can enjoy the park if they don't like dogs and the owners do not have to worry.     

    The Sundays in Berlin are something I look forward to because they are so laid back and it is a good time to destress from the week and prepare for the upcoming week. It is so nice to emerge myself in the Berlin culture and see how people entertain and enjoy themselves. 

Entertainment - Soccer

    In Europe, soccer is regarded not just as a part of life, but for many as a way of life because of how important it is to community and friendship. Soccer brings entire cities and countries together because it is a game that is full of and elicits passion, emotions (both happy and sad), and relationships not only from and by the players but the fans too. In a city like Berlin, which was once divided not only physically but culturally, soccer is an avenue for unity and shared interest. 

    There are two main teams in Berlin, Hertha FC, and FC Union Berlin, and both of these teams compete in the Bundesliga. Although the favored and higher-level team is Union (recently becoming very good), Hertha FC does have loyal supporters. When the Berlin Wall first came down, these two teams had a friendly match that attracted around 50,000 fans! Today Olympiastadion Berlin (used for other events such as concerts and the 1936 Olympics)where Hertha plays holds around 75,000 people and Union's stadium, Stadion An der Alten Försterei, holds 22,000 and is usually sold out on game days. Both of these teams garner many enthusiastic fans throughout the year and it is an ode to how important and valuable soccer is in the life of Berliners. 

    Here in Berlin, I am currently playing on a soccer team called Berolina Mitte which is about 15 minutes from my apartment. I found the team through an old William Smith teammate who lives in Berlin. The girls are around my age and are very welcoming and kind. The practices are entirely in German and my teammates are very open to speaking German which me and helping me understand what we are doing. I have learned a few words that they use a lot during practice:

1. Unbedingt: meaning regardless of any obstacles, under any circumstances - used when someone scores a goal by giving it their all

2. Weiter: means more, continue, further - used by defenders to get their team to keep pressing or not giving up

3. Druck: this means pressure - it is used when you pass the ball to your teammate who has a defender near them so they know to pass the ball back

4. Durch: this word means through - it is used when you want the ball to be passed through two defenders to you 

    I was able to experience the excitement and community brought about by soccer on International Womens Day when my team went to an event at the Adidas Sports Base in Berlin. The event was a 5v5 tournament with around 12 teams and each team was representing a different club team in Berlin that they play for. My club team split up into two teams of 7 and I was excited a lot of us were going to be there because it was a chance to get to know them better. The day started in the morning and Adidas supplied every player a whole uniform and other gear that we got to keep! We all got to run out on the field and were introduced and cheered for by the spectators.  Each team played a few games and then there were playoffs and a final. Unfortunately, my team did not make it to the finals but we had a lot of fun playing in the games because the crowd was energetic. There was an announcer on a microphone commentating the event who was very into it, there were DJs playing music, and a lot of media personnel taking pictures and videos throughout the day. Each player also got free food and drinks from the food truck and we could hang out in the main room that had couches and tables. The coolest thing was the panel held in the middle of the day where some famous soccer players, influencers, and other cool people were interviewed and all of the players got to watch, It was entirely in German so I did not understand much of it but it was a good opportunity to practice my listening skills. The event was all about the players and celebrating women's accomplishments in sports. Everyone there was so excited to be there playing soccer. 

    I have not experienced an event like this in America. Although I have been to countless soccer tournaments, I have not experienced something of this caliber that celebrates both sports and women at the same time. Sure America celebrates women in sports a lot but the media personnel and services (free clothes, food) to the players were something I have not experienced before. There are events like this in America but usually, they are for players of higher caliber or for famous athletes. This event celebrated just the "average" soccer players of Berlin (saying this to show that not just famous or outstanding people are celebrated here in Germany, but everyone) and it was really fun to feel special for who I am. At tournaments or soccer events in the US, there are usually so many people there and it is easy to get lost in the crowd and feel small. The Adidas Sports Base was a more intimate setting and it was easy to tell that a lot of time had been put into planning and organizing the day so we could all enjoy it. I think being in a big city makes it easier to attend cool events like this because there is a "sports base" and more funds and recourses are able to be put in. In the town where I live in Maryland, there is less likely things like this happen because companies do not have bases in my town and there are also fewer soccer teams and therefore a lack of a tight-knit community. There are too many other sports people are involved in (lacrosse) for there to be as much excitement around soccer in the US as there is in Germany.  

    Overall I really enjoyed this experience and seeing how soccer has the ability to bring together a lot of people and give them a memorable and special day. 

 

Entertainment - Film as a cultural event

Hallo Leute! 

    For 10 days every year, Berlin hosts one of the biggest international film festivals in the world, called Berlinale (you can click this link for more information). It attracts tens of thousands of people each year, including 20,000 professionals and 3,800 journalists. It was founded in 1951 (71 years ago) and started at the beginning of the Cold War so that there could be a "showcase of the free world" after the end of WW2.  The political roots of Berlinale are reflected heavily in many of the films today. (If you'd like to read more about this political beginning and history of this festival, click here, here, and here!!). Because the goal is the festival is to showcase a multitude of perspectives, there are about 400 films submitted to the festival in a variety of categories (to compare: Sundance Film Festival showed about 100 films and had an attendance of about 46,000 people in 2016). The categories include Competition, Shorts, Panorama, Perspektive Deutsches Kino, Generation, and more.  There are showings of every film multiple times every day and at a multitude of theatres all over the city and the tickets are VERY affordable and cheap (around 15 euros to only 7.5 euros for students or kids) which makes this an accessible cultural event for most of the public!  This year 320,000 tickets were sold. Fun fact: My friend sat 2 rows in front of Matt Damon at one of the showings this year!!!) 

    I was so lucky that I was in Berlin to experience and attend the Berlinale this year. Because I was away both weekends of the festival and had school during the week, I was only able to make it to three films. Buying tickets was very easy, all I had to do was go online and see which films looked interesting to me and could buy a student discount ticket. The ticket was downloaded onto my phone. I wanted to experience German film so the first film I saw was a Deutsches Kino LGBTQ+ film called "Knochen und Namen" (Bones and Names). This was held in an AMAZING theatre called Zoo Palast with 4 theatres. The outside of the theatre had a red carpet and security guards but unfortunately, no celebrities were there at the time. I didn't know what to expect from this screening. Would the theatre be packed to the brim? Would I be the only one there? I came to realize that I should NOT have arrived one minute before it started because I was stuck in the very front row of a sold-out crowd. Germans are ALWAYS on time and I should've known better. Nonetheless, the film was incredible. It was the debut film of the filmmaker and the audience was definitely pleased. I wish I was fluent in German so that I could understand the movie without reading the English subtitles, but the actors portrayed a lot of emotion through their voices, face, and body. I went alone to this screening, which I was a bit nervous about, but I have learned to be confident and ask "English, Bitte" or "Sprechen Sie English?" if I don't understand what someone is saying to me. A lot of the time you can get away without understanding everything someone is saying to you in another language at events like these. 

    I had to run quickly over to my next showing that started 30 minutes after Knochen and Namen, and it was 29 minutes away. Luckily I have learned how to use public transportation here so I hopped onto the U-Bahn (underground train!) and took it to the other theatre! I met up with a friend for a Panorama Documentary film called Iron Butterflies which was about the war between Russia and Ukraine. It documented the attack on Malaysian Passenger Jet MH17 (from the Netherlands to Malaysia carrying 278 passengers) by Russian Forces as it flew over a Russian-occupied area of Ukraine.  It was a bit of an abstract film mixed with documentaries, interviews, raw footage, real audio of Russian forces, and more. I had no idea about this incident during the war because it happened in 2014, but I am so glad I went and learned about it. After the film, the director and producer came out and talked about how they made the film and answered questions from the audience. On the way out, we were handed souvenirs. 

    The last movie I was was called The Fablemans by Steven Spielberg. It is a true story based on Spielberg's childhood. The venue was Verti Musical Hall, which is a huge venue for big concerts. I am not sure how many people were in the audience but I want to say around 300?  Since this was the next day, I knew to arrive 30 minutes early for a good seat. I went with three other friends and we sat in elevated seats so we could get a good view. The showing was at 10:30pm and the movie was 2.5 hours long so it was hard to stay awake but I am glad I did. The movie was moving, funny, sad, confusing, and inspiring. I felt a lot of different emotions watching it and that is an ode to Speilbergs filmmaking talent. 

The three films I saw were unique to each other as they each focused on a different aspect of life. I think this is why Berlinale attracts thousands of people every year from around the world. It does not intend to hide or block reality, but rather showcase it, even if it hurts or could offend people. I think this is different from America because so many things are filtered out whereas Germany has more of a raw edge to it in terms of entertainment. There is more of an international awareness here. I have also noticed there is significantly more awareness of the war on Ukraine (and other crises around the world) than in the US. Although the physical closeness of Germany to Ukraine plays a role, I don't think that should affect anybody's knowledge of atrocities of any event around the world. Besides the Iron Butterflies documentary, there were films about pretty much every age group, religion, nationality, race, gender, sexuality, etc. The political roots of Berlinale are VERY strong still and people come to see what is happening around the world.  Another thing about Berlinale is that it is not only for film nerds whereas some other film festivals in the US may be solely for super film fans because most films are indie. Here there is surely something for EVERYONE (Berlinale plays old Disney movies like Cinderella) and that is why it is so special. I am so glad I got to experience this AMAZING film festival and I hope I can come back another year! 

Verti Music Hall

The director and producer of Iron Butterflies 

Red Carpet set up at Zoo Palast