To say that Florian Opitz's new documentary series "Capital B - Who Owns Berlin?" has been critically acclaimed is a grand understatement. The reactions are anthemic. Taz, “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, “FAZ”, and also SPIEGEL are blown away. The five-part series starts with the fall of the Berlin Wall and covers the period up to the 2021 Berlin referendum on the expropriation of the real estate group Vonovia. Opitz always changes perspective. Political and economic decision-makers as well as representatives of the subculture that quickly emerged after the fall of the Berlin Wall have their say: from the founder of the techno club Tresor to Berlin's long-time mastermind Klaus-Rüdiger Landowsky to the former mayor Klaus Wowereit, the musician Peter Fox and Neukölln's integration officer Güner Balci.
Director Florian Optiz
Photo: DJV
In the “Moreno+1” podcast, Opitz describes the different phases and moods that Berlin has experienced over the last 30 years. »It started in 1990 with a summer of anarchy in which anything seemed possible. Then came a phase in which Berlin thought it would soon be able to keep up with New York. This was followed by a severe crash, which turned into an upswing a good 15 years ago, which has now slowed down again," says Opitz. Basically, Berlin is now back at the beginning. A city that goes in circles. Due to the collapse of the commercial real estate market, a lot of buildings are currently empty again - which theoretically offer freedom for creativity, says Opitz. Just like 30 years ago, after the end of the GDR.
»Moreno+1« is SPIEGEL's interview podcast with Juan Moreno. For everyone who is curious about good conversations. New every Wednesday. Please send any information or guest requests to moreno+1@spiegel.de.