USF remembers fall of Berlin Wall

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, USF is hosting a premiere of the German film, “One, Two, Three” today.

The film, directed by Billy Wilder, will be shown at 3:45 p.m. in the Grace Allen Room on the fourth floor of the library.

The event is part of “Freedom Without Walls,” a series of events to honor the fall of the Berlin Wall, said Margit Grieb, associate professor of World Languages. All events are open to the community and free of charge, she said.

“The film, which was released in 1961 when the Berlin Wall was constructed, is a satirical comedy about an American representative in West Berlin during the Cold War,” said Grieb, who coordinates the events.

On Nov. 9, 1989, the wall separating East and West Berlin came down, signaling the end of the Cold War and beginning a new era in European history, Grieb said. She expects 50 people at the event.

The events are sponsored by the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the USF College of Arts and Sciences, Grieb said. USF was selected by German Ambassador to the U.S. Klaus Scharioth and the D.C. Embassy to hold the series.

Students are encouraged to submit a presentation for cash awards that addresses the theme of, “Memories of the Fall of the Berlin Wall – As Remembered, Recounted, Collected, or Imagined,” Grieb said.

A $100 cash award will be given for first place, $30 for second and $20 for third, she said.

Presentations should be 10 minutes or 1,200 words for entries in the form of a written speech, a poem, a song, a dramatic performance or a visual, Grieb said. The deadline to submit is Oct. 14 at 5 p.m.

Similar events will be held over the next two months, including a gala celebration at the Marshall Student Center (MSC) on Oct. 21 at 6 p.m., which features a German author, food and refreshments, Grieb said.

From Nov. 2-9, a replica of the Berlin Wall will be mounted outside the MSC from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grieb said students are encouraged to take part in spray painting the wall.