Fall of wall inspires new documentary

As a junior at New York University, film student Jill Sapenoff went to Berlin for a semester to study. When she came back after four months, inspired by some of her experiences there, Ms. Sapenoff, now a senior, decided to base a two-part fictional narrative and documentary project on the country’s relatively recent history.

On Monday, Germans will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Though the dismantling of the wall was a gradual process, that day — Nov. 9, 1989 — is generally considered one of the more significant days at the beginning of that process.

To partake in the festivities and document the celebrations, Ms. Sapenoff and a crew of students are scheduled to fly to Berlin today for about a week. Thus commences their project, informally titled Ostalgie, The Berlin Project. The title combines the German words Ost (east) with Nostalgie (nostalgia).