DEM DEUTSCHEN VOLKE
TO THE GERMAN PEOPLE: THE WRAPPED REICHSTAG

Wednesday, January 20 at 1:30pm

In June 1995, Christo and Jeanne-Claude's "wrapping" of the Berlin Reichtstag - an unmistakable symbol of German identity and history - became one of the most spectacular artistic events in recent history. It attracted over 5 million visitors and generated phenomenal media interest. For the couple, the project was the long-awaited result of two decades of lobbying. As early as 1961, Christo had conceived of the idea to wrap up the German Reichstag. When the collapse of the Berlin Wall heralded the end of the Warsaw Pact in 1989, Christo and Jeanne-Claude revived their plans and embarked on a new round of visits to politicians and dignitaries, ultimately receiving a green light from the German parliament. The film offers engrossing and rare behind-the-scenes glimpses of the varying degrees of enthusiasm and objections surrounding the project.  It also wittily chronicles the ambitious operation from the labor of preparation to the remarkable technical feat of the "wrapping." The results are breathtaking images of the "wrapped" Reichstag itself, from every angle and in every light. Willie Brandt, one of the projects' earliest supporters, stated: "In the wrapped Reichstag, every German will find himself reflected."

Wolfram Hissen was born in Cologne in 1961. He moved to Paris, France in 1983, working for RTL as a foreign correspondent. From 1984 to 1994 he made numerous documentaries and short films based on art, culture, music, fashion and social issues for European and American television. He was simultaneously producer, cameraman, director and editor.

Jörg Daniel Hissen was born in Heidelberg in 1964.  After several long stays abroad, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Hamburg. There, from 1989 to 1996, he studied visual communications and majored in directing. Since 1988 he has directed several documentaries.