Cathedrals of Culture: The Berlin Philharmonic

In the early sixties, two neighboring constructions, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Berlin Wall, offered competing visions of the future: one of inclusion and possibility, the other of exclusion and fear. Half a century later, it is Hans Scharoun's legendary Philharmonic that remains standing. In the heart of Berlin's cultural center, Potsdamer Platz, the Philharmonic offers a breathtaking icon of modernity and idealism. In Wim Wender's "The Berlin Philharmonic", we come to know the building through the eyes of several of its occupants, who each have a profound connection to the space. We eavesdrop on orchestra rehearsals in the central concert hall, where Scharoun radically reimagined the stage, daring to place it in the middle of the auditorium. Throughout the film, Debussy's "Jeux" serves as a fitting soundtrack to the Philharmonic's exquisite design.