The 12 best series and films about the fall of the Berlin Wall

The fall of the Berlin Wall is a historic event that has been extensively dealt with. But if documentaries and history books are too boring for you, we have compiled the most exciting series and films on the subject for you.

A date steeped in history

In 1848  Robert Blum, a member of the Frankfurt National Assembly – the first democratically elected parliament – was executed in Germany. It was the end of the March Revolution. In 1918  , however, the Weimar Republic and with it the end of the German Empire was proclaimed on the same date. As we know, this did not last very long.

As early as  1923  Hitler tried to overthrow the government together with General Ludendorff. The coup fails. It was not entirely by chance that he chose the same date 15 years later for the  November programs in which Jewish shops and establishments were looted and set on fire.

In 1967  the motto of the 1968 movement “Under the gowns – mustard of 1000 years” was chosen – among other things, this also resulted in the RAF terror up into the 80s. Not entirely unintentionally, a left-wing radical terrorist organization chose  this date in 1969  to carry out an arson attack on a Jewish community center in Berlin. Fortunately, it failed.

Because it’s actually much more exciting to  easily watch such historical events again with a dash of fiction in our favorite films and series .

1. Bornholmer Strasse (2014)

What’s the matter?

On the evening of November 9, 1989, everything seems to be going on as usual, unspectacular for the border guards at the GDR border crossing “Bornholmer Straße”. The craziest thing that happens: a stray dog ​​trying to run to the west. Until suddenly more and more GDR citizens just stand in front of their turnpike and want to cross over. The soldiers are overwhelmed and really don’t know what to do.

For whom?

A tragic comedy for fans of German films and all those who do not want to hear the day the Wall came down from any contemporary witnesses who drove over in the Trabi.

2. Sonnenallee (1999)

What’s the matter?

For whom?

All who still believe in great love. By the way, her name is Miriam. And also for fans of pop culture and GDR jokes – I just say “multifunction table” or, for short: Mu-Fu-Ti!

3. “Mr. Lehmann” (2003)

What’s the matter?

Mr. Lehmann’s real name is Frank and he lives in West Berlin. And well, he happened to witness the fall of the wall. For more information, please read the novel by Sven Regener.

For whom?

Are you also a limitless pessimist like Mr. Lehmann and love cynicism? Then off for it.

4. Germany 83/86

What’s the matter?

For whom?

Series junkies who love the thrill and are bored with normal story documentaries. James Bond goes DDR.

5. Go Trabi Go – The Saxons are Coming (1991)

What’s the matter?

In the summer of 1990 the Struutz family wanted to discover the big wide world with a Trabant (the car) Schorch. For this, the Bitterfelder (Bitterfeld is in Saxony-Anhalt, by the way) want to follow Goethe’s legendary trip to Italy as far as Naples. You can see in the film everything that is curious about them.

For whom?

Trash lovers. But it’s great, authentic trash.

6. The Same Sky (2017)

What’s the matter?

For whom?

If you want it a bit more serious and auteur cinema-like, this three-part series is the right choice.

7. Good bye, Lenin! (2003)

What’s the matter?

Alex’s mother falls into a coma – and thus misses the turning point. In order to protect herself, Alex pretends to his mother, who was a convinced SED supporter and socialist in GDR times, that the GDR continues to exist. Not without problems, of course.

For whom?

The classic among the Eastern films doesn’t hurt anyone and is the lowest common denominator for everyone.

8. Friendship! (2010)

What’s the matter?

For whom?

Admittedly, the film is a bit funny, but if you just want some feel-good time, this is the place for you.

9. The Lives of Others (2008)

Why is?

1985: Loyal to the line, Stasi captain Gerd Wiesler is assigned by Lieutenant Colonel Anton Grubitz to the celebrated playwright Georg Dreyman and his partner, the theater star Christa-Maria Sieland. Wiesler hopes that this will advance his career, but gets himself caught in a vortex of fear and intrigue.

For whom?

Everyone should have seen the Oscar-winning film once.

10. Honey women (2017)

What’s the matter?

For whom?

Rom-Com meets history document – whoever is into it will love the three-part series.

11. Balloon (2018)

What’s the matter?

Based on a true story: The Strelzyk and Wetzel families want to flee the GDR. In September 1979 the two couples with four children started their flight in a hot air balloon. They sewed this together from raincoat fabric themselves. Their attempt to escape fails, however, and the balloon crashes just before the border. They ambitiously begin to work on a new flying object. However, the Stasi gets them on the track and begins the investigation. It will be a race against time.

For whom?

Well-made thrillers from a German pen are rare, but Michael Bully Herbig made it. So, if you like excitement, you’ve come to the right place.

12. Atomic Blonde (2017)

What’s the matter?

For whom?

It’s finally going international! The film is for all of you who refuse to watch German productions. Sorry, we couldn’t find anything better. Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies” is just even worse.