Countdown A Film by Ulrike Ottinger Germany 1990 16 mm, color, 188 minutes Ulrike Ottinger Filmproduction, Berlin December 4, 1990, Paris (Avant Premiere Festival d'Automne) February 20, 1991, Berlin Filmfestival, Internationales Forum Distributed by Freunde der Deutschen Kinemathek e.V. Countdown follows a chronological sequence. The movie was shot in Berlin and environs over a ten-day period leading up to the unification of the currencies on July 1, 1990. The film thus ends on the date marking "the first stage of German reunification". Eva Meyer Chapters of the Film Point in Time/Counterpoint Day 1: June 22, 1990 Einsteinturm (Potsdam), Jewish Cemetery Weißensee (Berlin, Herbert-Baum-Straße) New Permeability. The Waterways. Day 2: June 23, 1990 Bauhausarchiv, Shell-Haus, Synagogue, Oberbaumbrücke, Berlin Dom, Nikolai Quarter, Bahnhof Friedrichstraße, Reichstag, Kongresshalle, Siemenssteg Trade Nomads Day 3: June 24, 1990 Bahnhof Zoo The Wall. Adventure Park Day 4: June 25, 1990 Vital Signs Day 5: June 26, 1990 Alexanderplatz, "Death Strip," Wollankstraße, Oberbaumbrücke, Schlesisches Tor "Farewell to the Past" and the Children Day 6: June 27, 1990 Glienickerbrücke, Caputh, Petzow, Werder, Deetz, Ketzin, Kremmen, Linum, Dechtow, Karwesee What counts? Day 7: June 28, 1990 Magnetbahn, Postdamer Platz, Tiergarten The Empty Shop Window of the East Day 8: June 29, 1990 What's left? Day 9: June 30, 1990 Plaue, a fishing village Currency Lines Day 10: July 1, 1990 Karl-Marx-Allee, Frankfurter Allee (formerly Stalin-Allee), roller coaster, Amusement Park Treptow Staff Director Screenplay Cinematographer Ulrike Ottinger Text of the title Eva Meyer Sound Margit Eschenbach Editor Eva Schlensag Assistant Producer Heidi Maria von Plato With thanks to Oberkantor Estrongo Nachama Distribution: Freunde der Deutschen Kinemathek e.V. Potsdamer Str. 2 D-10785 Berlin Germany Contact: Karl Winter fon +49-30-269 55 150 fax +49-30-269 55 111