Berlin (documentary)
Encyclopedia
Berlin is a 2009 documentary
series co-developed by the BBC
and the Open University
. Written and presented by Matt Frei
, the series has three 60-minute episodes, each dealing with a different aspect of the history of Germany
's capital city
.
to the Palast der Republik
which for a time took its place, from the creation of the Bauakademie
to that of the Olympic Stadium, and from the rise of the Fernsehturm to the rejuvenation of the Reichstag, this episode looks at the varied periods of construction, destruction and renewal seen in the architecture of the city of Berlin.
Part 1 was noted in The Times
as having "brilliant" writing, but was criticized for following a pattern seen in other documentaries, in which presenters would "increasingly want to wear their credentials on their sleeves." The History News Network
review posits that "So, Frei certainly hits a chord when he says at the outset “The story of Berlin is one of a clash of ideas that would shape the modern world.”"
DVD
(BBCDVD3039) was released on the 30th of November 2009, which features all three full-length episodes. An accompanying booklet was made available by the Open University. The bilingual (in English and German) guide is free to order within the United Kingdom
or the Republic of Ireland
.
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
series co-developed by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
. Written and presented by Matt Frei
Matt Frei
Matthias Frei better known as Matt Frei is a German-born British television news journalist and writer, presently the Washington, D.C. correspondent for Channel 4 News.-Personal life:...
, the series has three 60-minute episodes, each dealing with a different aspect of the history of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's capital city
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Episode 1 – Dangerous Ideas
Using the life and posthumous legacy of Frederick the Great as its central theme, this episode covers some of the most notable political, social and cultural movements to emerge within Berlin over the past two centuries.Episode 2 – Ruined Visions
From the advent of the former Berliner StadtschlossBerliner Stadtschloss
The Stadtschloss , was a royal palace in the centre of Berlin, capital of Germany. The palace bore features of the Baroque style, and its shape, finalized by the mid 18th century, is attributed to Andreas Schlüter, whose first design is likely to date from 1702, though the palace incorporated...
to the Palast der Republik
Palast der Republik
The Palace of the Republic in Berlin was the seat of the parliament of the German Democratic Republic, the People's Chamber, and also served various cultural purposes...
which for a time took its place, from the creation of the Bauakademie
Bauakademie
The Bauakademie in Berlin, Germany, built between 1832 and 1836, is considered one of the forerunners of modern architecture due to its theretofore uncommon use of red brick and the relatively streamlined facade of the building.Designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the Bauakademie was built near...
to that of the Olympic Stadium, and from the rise of the Fernsehturm to the rejuvenation of the Reichstag, this episode looks at the varied periods of construction, destruction and renewal seen in the architecture of the city of Berlin.
Episode 3 – Ich bin ein Berliner
Turning to look at the legacy which history has placed upon the people of Berlin – and that which Berliners themselves have offered in turn – this episode charts the tumultuous eras which the city has endured, for good or ill, through the course of the 19th and 20th centuries.Reception
Approximately one million people are reported to have watched the broadcasts of parts 2 and 3 on BBC2 in the UK.Part 1 was noted in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
as having "brilliant" writing, but was criticized for following a pattern seen in other documentaries, in which presenters would "increasingly want to wear their credentials on their sleeves." The History News Network
History News Network
History News Network is a project of the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. Although the HNN resides on GMU's server, it operates independently of the university as a non-profit corporation registered in Washington State...
review posits that "So, Frei certainly hits a chord when he says at the outset “The story of Berlin is one of a clash of ideas that would shape the modern world.”"
Merchandise
A 1-disc Region 2DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
(BBCDVD3039) was released on the 30th of November 2009, which features all three full-length episodes. An accompanying booklet was made available by the Open University. The bilingual (in English and German) guide is free to order within the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
or the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.