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Berlin's Hidden History
Berlin's Hidden History
Actor: Brian Ladd
Director: Brian Ladd;Brian Ladd;John Woods
Genres: Special Interests, Educational, Documentary
2002     0hr 53min

Berlin, the capital of reunified Germany, is a city with a glittering present and a dark past. A historian leads the viewer through the new Berlin, revealing the many traces of history in a city that served as Frederick th...  more »

     
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Movie Details

Actor: Brian Ladd
Director: Brian Ladd;Brian Ladd;John Woods
Genres: Special Interests, Educational, Documentary
Sub-Genres: Art & Artists, Educational, History
Studio: Woods Production
Format: DVD - Full Screen
DVD Release Date: 10/01/2002
Release Year: 2002
Run Time: 0hr 53min
Screens: Full Screen
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 2
Languages: English

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Movie Reviews

Intelligent Exploration of Berlin
Beth Fox | Los Angeles, CA USA | 03/13/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)

"This film is more scholarly than the typical "explore-a-region" documentary because it was written by an expert on the city, Brian Ladd. Instead of touring Berlin region by region, the film tours the city by historical era, starting in the Middle Ages, going through the Royal Era, the Weimar Era, the Nazi Era, the Divided City and the present. Ladd explores and explains the different types of architecture found in the city, and how the buildings relate to the various times in which they were built. There is extensive time devoted to "Jewish Berlin," both past and present, including the magnificent synagogue and the new Jewish museum. The DVD also contains, as extras, erudite discussions by Professors Johannes Helmrath and Peter Pulzer, who add additional historical background. Highly recommended for anyone who is planning to visit Berlin, or who is just interested in this fascinating city.

For those who want to see more of Berlin, I also recommend the masterpiece: "Belin, Symphony of a Great City," filmed in 1927. It is a remarkable film that puts you in the middle of the city before it was destroyed by war. Additionally, Wim Wenders' film "Wings of Desire," while not about Berlin per se, contains excellent footage of how Berlin looked just a few years before the fall of the wall."
Now We Know.
Charles G. Inman | Fort Edward, NY USA | 02/08/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)

""Berlin's Hidden History" provides an insightful glimpse into the Berlin of today and the psyche of its citizens, primarily as revealed in restorative and modern architecture, reflecting the pervasive influence of the past. Emphasis is on events of the post-Weimar Republic, however earlier history is not neglected.A balanced and enlightening view of a great city's past."
A Waste of Time
J. M. Peplinski | Custer, WI USA | 08/18/2006
(1 out of 5 stars)

"Berlin's "hidden history" remains hidden in this uninformative, self-indulgent pastiche. The film makers spend too much time on out-the-window shots from the S-Bahn, without even trying to identify the passing sights. Tendentious disquisitions on famous sights fail to identify the sites, the neighborhoods, or even streets and surrounding buildings. Too little history and too little geographical information make this film a waste of time."