Christo & Jeanne-Claude: Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin 1971-1995

In the summer of 1995 the moment had finally arrived: for two weeks the Reichstag, wrapped up in silvery white fabric, shone and glittered in the Berlin summer sun. For the artist couple Christo and Jeanne-Claude this was the pinnacle of twenty years of lobbying, begging, peddling and persuading. As early as 1961 Christo conceived the idea to wrap up the German Reichstag. By transforming this symbol of German history into a work of art, art and politics could enter a dialogue about the future of Germany. When in 1989 the collapse of the Wall heralded the end of the Warsaw Pact, Christo's plans were revived. What followed was a new round of visits to politicians and dignitaries, who reacted to his plans with varying enthusiasm. It is particularly interesting to see how their objections and arguments reflect the frailty of post-Wende politics. After a ballot in the German parliament they finally got permission. Then the actual work could commence. Gigantic quantities of fabric had to be woven, thousands of yards of rope had to be made. Wolfram and Jörg Daniel Hissen scrutinised the whole operation. Apart from being the account of one of the most ambitious projects Christo ever launched, the film is also a reflection of twenty years of German history. The film begins with images of Christo's first visit to Berlin. The Reichstag stands in a deserted snowy landscape, the same blinding white that twenty years later would for some time hide the building from view. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)