- Title: Berlin's light festival illuminates over 70 buildings
- Date: 30th September 2016
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 30, 2016) (REUTERS) FERRIS WHEEL SEEN BEHIND BRANDENBURG GATE BRANDENBURG GATE ILLUMINATED BERLIN TV TOWER SEEN BEHIND LIGHTS VARIOUS OF COLOURFUL PROJECTION ON BRANDENBURG GATE
- Embargoed: 16th October 2016 00:50
- Keywords: Berlin light festival Hitler projection
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Living/Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00151RBQZD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A colourful light show on Berlin's Brandenburg Gate marked the opening of the city´s annual light festival, a two-week jamboree of light shows, fireworks and illuminations of all kinds.
The city's landmark is only one out of 70 buildings, facades and bridges which will be enlightened at nightfall with spectacular illuminations, projections and pyrotechnic displays for the next 17 days.
But one of the shows has especially drawn attention from media and passersby: a video animation of 150 years of the city's history which includes an eight-metre-high projection of Adolf Hitler.
The video lasts 7:30 minutes, but several local newspapers have highlighted the 10-second long part in which red banners are displayed around the Nazi leader followed by another 10 seconds of the Reich's Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels holding a speech.
Andreas Boehlke, one of the masterminds behind the light festival, shrugged off the issue and said it was only one more part of German history.
"We were asked to gather the history of the last 120-130 years in a 7:30 minute long video. Behind us you see the wall being built and the wall being torn down in a moment. There are many phases in the history of our country, starting with the emperor and reaching our time," told Reuters at the site.
"The golden 20's, which were wonderful, are featured, but we also had two world wars and they were horrible, and that should never happen again. I think it (the projection) shows very well what we have created with this pack, which is a comprehensive piece of art," he added.
The show includes John F. Kennedy's famous phrase "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner) and even funny gags like that of David Hasselhoff, who's song "I've Been Looking For Freedom" dominated the charts during the period of German reunification.
Asked whether some people would find the show hard to understand, Boehlke said:
"I will give you a clear answer, an easy answer. Come here and watch the whole story and then you will understand."
Stefan and Camilla Fischer, from Duesseldorf, were having a short holiday in Berlin and were amused with the show.
"This is a great thing to see through such a big projection. These are short pieces of history and it clearly explains parts of our history. I think the way they did it was a bit 'clowny', ironic, but that is art, the fact of putting it in a fabulous way," Stefan said.
"We were surprised and we really like it," Camilla added. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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