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Escape to Berlin

‘Flucht nach Berlin’, FRG 1961, directed by: Will Tremper, 104 min, no subtitles, rating: age 12 and up 

In 1960, East and West Germany were separated only by the political divide. The farmer Hermann Güden wants to flee to the West across the green border, as he sees no future for himself under compulsory collectivization. While fleeing in the direction of Berlin, he encounters a Swiss tourist and a young, fanatical SED party official. The film’s director, Will Tremper, turned a newspaper article into a suspenseful genre film that responded cinematically to the political circumstances. It represents a brief historical moment; however, its relevance was rendered obsolete shortly after its premiere by the construction of the Berlin Wall. 

Featuring: Christian Doermer, Susanne Korda, Narziß Sokatscheff 

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