Berlin - Stettin (2009)
A deeply personal documentary journey tracing filmmaker Volker Koepp's roots between Berlin and the Polish city of Szczecin.
Berlin - Stettin - Movie Information
- Original Title: Berlin - Stettin
- Release Year: 2009
- Directed by: Volker Koepp
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Documentary
- Runtime: 1h 50m
- Original Language: German
- Spoken Languages: German, Polish
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 29, 2009 (Austria), January 28, 2010 (Germany)
- Production Countries: Germany
Berlin - Stettin - Plot
In his film "Berlin-Stettin", well-known documentary film director Volker Koepp embarks on a journey to the places of his own past: Born in 1944 in Stettin (now the Polish city of Szczecin) and grown up in Berlin-Karlshorst, Koepp has again and again met people and found places located between the two cities that he turned into the protagonists of his films – in Brandenburg, in Mecklenburg, and in Pomerania. Now, he once again returns to these places and finds out that his own biography overlaps with the biographies of his found again protagonists as well as with the history of this region. During his search for traces, Koepp at the same time finds new people, new regions, and new themes that are also worth becoming a part of Koepp’s narration.
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Berlin - Stettin - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Volker Koepp
Main Cast
- Fritzi Haberlandt
Writers
- Volker Koepp
Berlin - Stettin - FAQs
What is Berlin - Stettin about?
Berlin - Stettin follows documentary filmmaker Volker Koepp as he revisits places tied to his own past — from his birthplace of Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland) to Berlin-Karlshorst — exploring how personal memory, regional history, and the lives of ordinary people intertwine across Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, and Pomerania.
Who directed Berlin - Stettin?
Volker Koepp directed Berlin - Stettin. One of Germany's most respected documentary filmmakers, Koepp is known for his deeply personal, observational style. This film is especially intimate — it doubles as a journey through his own biography, revisiting people and landscapes he has documented throughout his career.
Is Berlin - Stettin based on a true story?
Yes, Berlin - Stettin is rooted in real life. Volker Koepp was born in Stettin in 1944 and grew up in Berlin-Karlshorst, and the film draws directly from his personal history. The people and places he revisits are real, making this documentary a genuine memoir told through landscape and human encounter.
Where was Berlin - Stettin filmed?
The film was shot across the corridor between Berlin and Szczecin (the Polish city formerly known as Stettin), taking in the landscapes of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, and Pomerania. These regions carry deep historical and personal significance for Koepp, and cinematographer Thomas Plenert captures their quiet, evocative character throughout.
When was Berlin - Stettin released?
Berlin - Stettin premiered in Austria on October 29, 2009, followed by its German release on January 28, 2010. The film's rollout across German-speaking territories reflects its strong regional resonance, particularly for audiences with ties to the post-war history of eastern Germany and western Poland.
Who appears in Berlin - Stettin?
Fritzi Haberlandt appears in the film as herself, lending a recognizable presence to Koepp's reflective journey. Beyond her, the documentary features the real people and communities Koepp has encountered over decades of filmmaking — ordinary individuals whose lives are woven into the history of this border region.
What themes does Berlin - Stettin explore?
The film digs into memory, displacement, and identity — themes shaped by the turbulent 20th-century history of the German-Polish borderlands. Koepp explores how personal biography and collective history overlap, and how landscapes hold traces of lives lived through war, division, and transformation. It's a meditation on belonging and the passage of time.
What are similar documentaries to Berlin - Stettin?
If Berlin - Stettin resonates with you, explore other personal and observational documentaries such as Anselm (2023) by Wim Wenders, Directed by John Ford (1971), or Love, Gilda (2018). Each shares that intimate quality of a filmmaker or subject reflecting on a life shaped by art, memory, and history.
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