For five hours the city of Berlin is scrutinized by a camera from various points of view. Clippings from 59 documentary films made over the course of four decades showcase the social background of the people and their life in the former divided city. In the beginning of the evening we meet the different social environments: Mary and her shop in the area called “Prenzlauer Berg”, the apparent peacefulness of an area of gardens with an arbor on each of them, and a group of bikers, who perform a church service for their deceased in the “Gedächtniskirche” (Church of Remembrance).

Further cinematic journeys into the heart of the city and its residents follow: a young Turkish woman, whose faith in Islam brings her peace, a taxi driver, who affectionately polishes his old Daimler, older people, who remember their youth under Hitler, and last but not least the crazy parties of the night life of Berlin.

The documentary film marathon is divided into ten blocks of 30 minutes each with the themes: social background, people and stones, youth, love, music, rememberance, women, protest and utopia, men and night.

The subjective chronicle of the German capital consists of the manifold insights and perceptions of the authors. During the film the authors explain their motivations and what they want to accomplish through their films.

Roger Willemsen is the host for the evening as he travels through the city of Berlin on the new panorama train of Berlin’s S-Bahn.