Almost twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Berlin is booming, becoming what a lot of Berliners and others always wanted it to be: a cultural metropolis equal to its neighbors Paris, London, and Rome.  Once a mecca for the arts, Berlin was devastated by WWII, and its special status and geographical isolation during the Cold War put in a state of crisis.  However on the Western side of the Wall subcultures blossomed and an alternative scene evolved.  When the wall came down, Berlin was ready to reinvent itself: spectacular developments in urban renewal and in the art scene began to take place all over the city.  The Goethe-Institut Boston’s celebration of the new Berlin includes visits and events highlighting the acclaimed young artists, poets, musicians, and filmmakers who have contributed to the city’s evolution into the dynamic and creative capital it is today.  The Harvard Film Archive is delighted to participate in this exploration of present-day Berlin by presenting this program of films focusing on the youthful spirit and gritty truths of contemporary urban life in the new Berlin.