FRG 1964, directed by Leo de Laforgue
Giant Berlin is a feature-length documentary on West Berlin shortly before and after the construction of the wall. Influenced by the collage-like montage of Walther Ruttmann’s Berlin. Die Sinfonie der Großstadt, director, screenwriter, cinematographer, and producer Leo de Laforgue made a part contemplating, part dizzying kaleidoscope of a city between the ravages of war and modernity, accompanied by psychedelic sound. Images of rubble alternate with views of reconstruction and contemporary architecture of the time. Footage of the building of the wall, military parades by the Allies, as well as John F. Kennedy’s visit on June 26, 1963 are both first-hand historical document and political statement on the front city as “outpost of freedom.”
The digitization was made from a very well-preserved 35mm vintage print representing the original cut, unlike the negative also held by the Bundesarchiv, which had been shortened. The image was scanned at 2K resolution and the optical sound was digitized at Bundesarchiv, Hoppegarten.
Kino Arsenal | Admisson 8 €, free of charge with filmrestored [at] deutsche-kinemathek.de (subject: Registration) (Festival–Registration)