It only took five weeks to change everything.
Following Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor on Jan. 30, 1933, the fifth and final season of hit German neo-noir series “Babylon Berlin” blends history and fiction one last time as its characters witness the rise of the Nazi Party and its unhinged violence, until Hitler’s full ascension to power after the infamous elections of March 5.
From left to right, Achim von Borries, Henk Handgloeten, Tom Tykwer. Credits Beta Film, Joachim Gern
“It’s incredible to realize it took so little time to change the system completely,” underlines von Borries. “When we started developing the series, we thought our story would end on Jan. 30. But as we took a closer look at this period of time, it became clear that the few weeks following were as important to this major shift.”
In fact, Europe’s political landscape has changed completely over the course of the serie’s development. And that shift also informed the writers. “During the making of the show,” continues Tykwer, “it became more and more apparent that these topics were also relevant for the people watching it, because it resonated with their political realities and our feelings of growing insecurity.”
‘Babylon Berlin’ Credits Beta Film, Christine Schroeder
Christine Schroeder
“Babylon Berlin” wraps with its fifth and final season on Sept. 10, with all episodes being release on ARD’s Mediathek online platform simultaneously. MhZ Choice, which snatched U.S. exclusive rights for the show in early 2024, will stream the last season in 2027.
