Which images have Germans kept to remind them of the Peaceful Revolution and the fall of the Wall? Which images of November 9, 1989 went around the world on international television? And which images were sought and found by documentary filmmakers for this period? Based on snapshots, and footage from television and film, the exhibition "Moments in Time 1989/1990", which will be showing at the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen from 1 May to 9 November 2009, will present the wealth of images generated by the turn of events between May 1989 and December 1990.
The first section of the exhibition concentrates on films and photos taken by private individuals. In diverse and personal ways, these images reveal the historical events and their impact on everyday life in East and West Germany. We asked all those who had captured their experiences in photos, on film or video to contribute to our collection. The picture that has resulted of the period between 1 May 1989 (the last May Day parade in the GDR) and 2 December 1990 (the first all-German Bundestag elections) resembles a mosaic composed of many small pieces. What is more, it extends and enhances the images and canon of topics familiar to us from the media.
The second section explores the coverage of events on television. In a video installation, Ulrich Wickert, who was himself a correspondent for the ARD in Paris in 1989, presents reports by four illustrious colleagues from Paris, London, New York, and Moscow. In interviews filmed for the exhibition in early 2009, these four journalists from the former Allied nations of World War II recall the circumstances in which they covered the events. They describe the political reactions and the tone in the media of these countries, as well as their own feelings and assessments.
The third section presents footage from documentary films made during this phase of political upheaval in East and West Germany. With their images, filmmakers such as Thomas Heise, Volker Koepp, Helke Misselwitz, and Ulrike Ottinger reflect the events in a variety of ways. Here too, the material is augmented by personal accounts in which the directors provide details about making their films.
Also after the exhibition, this collection of private snapshots and films will be accessible for all kinds of queries online at Externer Link: www.wir-waren-so-frei.de – our permanent database. In addition, the curators will select exhibits from the first section for a touring exhibition that will be available in digital form. Exhibitors will also be able to expand it with individual items from the database.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung). And thanks to a decision of the German Bundestag, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media (Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien) is funding the project.
Press photos: Externer Link: www.deutsche-kinemathek.de | Press | Press Photographs | Special Exhibitons
Press photos: Externer Link: www.bpb.de/presse/7SDGYK
Press conference
Thursday, 30 April 2009 at 11 a.m.
Location
Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film und Fernsehen
Potsdamer Str. 2
10785 Berlin
Press Release Interner Link: PDF-Version (62 KB)
Information
Deutsche Kinemathek
Tel. +49 (0)30 300 903-0
E-Mail Link: info@deutsche-kinemathek.de
Externer Link: www.deutsche-kinemathek.de
Press contact/Deutsche Kinemathek
Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film und Fernsehen
Press Office
Potsdamer Str. 2
10785 Berlin
Tel. +49(0) 30 300 903-820
E-Mail Link: hbzapke@deutsche-kinemathek.de
Press contact/bpb
Federal Agency for Civic Education
Daniel Kraft
Adenauerallee 86
53113 Bonn
Tel +49 (0) 228 99515-200
Fax +49 (0) 228 99515-293
E-Mail Link: presse@bpb.de
Externer Link: www.bpb.de/presse
