Bornholmer Straße film to air on MDR Fernsehen

MDR Fernsehen will broadcast the film ‘Bornholmer Straße’ (original title: ‘Open the Wall’), a drama directed by Christian Schwochow. The film depicts the historical events of November 9, 1989, at the Bornholmer Straße border crossing.

Following Günther Schabowski’s announcement regarding travel freedom for GDR citizens, Harald Schäfer, the head of the border crossing, faces a critical situation. As superiors and ministries fail to provide instructions, Schäfer must decide how to manage the growing crowds of citizens seeking to cross the border. The film portrays his decision to open the crossing to prevent potential violence.

The production, released in 2014, stars Charly Hübner as Harald Schäfer, alongside Milan Peschel, Rainer Bock, Max Hopp, and Frederick Lau. Broadcast times on MDR include September 24, 2026, at 12:30, with a repeat on September 27, 2026, at 05:55.