“What belongs together is growing together again”, commented Willy Brandt on the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989.

Today, thirty years later, the differences between former East and West Germany seem almost stronger than the similarities. The year 1990 continues to have an effect: The way things changed (“Wende”) and political decisions were taken back then continue to mark Germany to this day – a year of unprecedented possibilities and anarchy, but also of great upheavals and disappointments.

COUNTDOWN TO 1990 continues the successful documentary “COUNTDOWN 1961/1989” by telling the story of Germany’s reunification along 10 key moments between November 1989 and October 1990. These moments are brought to life through personal accounts and private journals of very different people. With the help of these, we show the path to German unity as it was felt by the people at the very moment, from different personal perspectives.

Furthermore, the key moments will also be commented and explained in expert interviews from East and West, Germany and abroad.