No Hollywood film of any significance has depicted the construction of the Berlin Wall until Bridge of Spies. Instead, the film’s production designer, Adam Stockhausen, used real footage of the construction work to truthfully depict the devastating reality of war-torn East Berlin. As for the actual filming, the place where the wall was actually built was Wrocław, Poland, formerly known as Breslau, the historic capital of the Prussian province of Lower Silesia.
The atmosphere of the city itself, its surroundings, etc., according to the creators, perfectly reflected the desired aesthetic. Another feature of the filming was that it took place in Brooklyn’s Ditmas Park. According to Stockhausen, this urban area best suited the character and personality of James Donovan, the main character of the spy thriller. Read more about all this at brooklynski.info.
History of creation
The wall was built on a large street with a square and the Charlie checkpoint. As for filming, for example, the scene with Gary Powers was not just shot in Berlin, but for complete authenticity, they went down to the basement of the former KGB prison. It doesn’t matter that it is now a museum. Similarly, intimate scenes were filmed in that prison, but on the upper floors.
It was in such cells, and perhaps even in the very same cells, that James Donovan was held in custody. As the film’s production designer Adam Stockhausen later said, it was emotionally important to film in the places where those terrible events took place.
Incidentally, the film was named after the Glienicke Bridge, which connects Berlin with Potsdam. Today, it is a busy transport artery. But during the Cold War, it was a so-called exchange point. Here, the United States and the Soviet Union exchanged prisoners, standing face to face. This historical fact was used to the maximum in the film.
As for the scenes that took place in West Berlin, especially at the Berlin Hilton Hotel, in keeping with historical accuracy, they were filmed in more affluent parts of the city. This reflected the fact that West Berlin recovered much more quickly from the destruction of World War II.
Brooklyn filming
Brooklyn, and New York in general, played a significant role in the filming. For example, James Donovan’s house was filmed in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. This particular neighborhood was not chosen by chance. According to the film’s production designer Adam Stockhausen, it was the most suitable location, reflecting the character and personality of James Donovan.
Therefore, the main filming began in New York, or more precisely, in Brooklyn, specifically in DUMBO and Astoria. For a while, local shops and street areas were transformed to reflect the aesthetics of the 1950s. Moreover, the filmmakers did not limit themselves to Brooklyn; later, filming moved to Manhattan, to Wall Street. But Brooklyn became the main “movie hero” of Greater New York this time, as it was here that the largest number of shooting days took place.
As for filming in Berlin, it all started at Tempelhof Airport. According to the script, several different events of the film took place here. For example, James Donovan’s arrival when he descended from a four-engine C-54 Skymaster transport plane. This plane, as is well known, was not only considered universal, but was also used to deliver food and everything necessary to West Berlin during its blockade by Soviet troops.
Currently, the airport serves as an emergency refugee camp. However, in relation to the film, it can be said that it is the attention to detail during the filming of the location that creates a sense of presence in that challenging era for the viewer. This feeling is further enhanced by the fact that filming often took place in the actual locations where the events occurred. This added authenticity to the film, reinforcing the feeling of recounting a completely real historical event. In addition, it was for this reason that it received high praise from both viewers and critics.
Wild ovation
The European premiere of the film Bridge of Spies took place in Berlin. Steven Spielberg arrived in the German capital for the occasion. As is well known, Spielberg has repeatedly made films about both the Holocaust and World War II. In 1993, it was Schindler’s List, and in 1998, Saving Private Ryan. In Bridge of Spies, the director took on the Cold War.
Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks, who played the lead role in the spy thriller, also came to Berlin. Another star, renowned German actor Sebastian Koch, was also present at the premiere. At the time, Sebastian was considered one of the most famous German film actors in the United States.
He became popular in Germany thanks to his roles in well-known television series and films, such as Valkyrie, Speer and Hitler: The Devil’s Architect, The Lives of Others, and others. Spielberg also found a role for the German actor. And this, by the way, is not his only work in Hollywood; Koch also appeared in the fifth season of the popular series Homeland, which was shown in the US.
Bridge of Spies was also warmly received at the New York Film Festival. What’s more, it was greeted with a standing ovation from the audience and rave reviews from critics. The Hollywood Reporter called the film a mood-lifting Cold War melodrama. The New York Post predicted that The Spy with Tom Hanks would lead last year’s Oscar race.
The film magazine Variety examined the work of actor Mark Rylance, who played the role of a Russian KGB agent in the film, and praised it. The sets, especially those recreated at the Babelsberg studio near Berlin, also did not go unnoticed.
As for Steven Spielberg, he has once again demonstrated his versatility, as his filmography includes a wide variety of films, from blockbusters with giant animals to historical films. The director explored the themes of Auschwitz and the Holocaust in Schindler’s List, and examined the Normandy invasion during World War II in Saving Private Ryan. War is clearly a subject of interest to this global film star.
Accuracy rating from experts
The screenplay for the film was written by Matt Charman and Joel and Ethan Coen. This trio did a great job, as critics rightly praised Bridge of Spies as a powerful film. The film contains plot twists that leave viewers spellbound. In addition, this is Tom Hanks’ fourth film with Spielberg, which once again explores the hidden face of justice and delivers a masterful decision.
Another important point is that Bridge of Spies received high marks for accuracy from a Cold War history expert. This 2015 historical drama about an American lawyer hired to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court and facilitate the exchange of that spy for American reconnaissance pilot Francis Gary Powers turned out to be quite accurate.
In addition to Tom Hanks and Sebastian Koch, the film stars Mark Rylance, Alan Alda, and Amy Ryan. Bridge of Spies received six Oscar nominations. The film is based on a true story, and many scenes were shot in Brooklyn, which may have contributed to its success.
Sources: