Spectrum: On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of German reunification in October 2020, Markus Stitz drove along the Iron Curtain for his film Border Experiences. In border experiences, however, it's not just about the bikepacking tour itself, but also about the bike adventurer's own story. The film impressively shows that freedom – even if many think it is – cannot be taken for granted.
In the ten-minute film, Markus Stitz tells how he experienced the opening of the border when he was ten. “It is this very freedom I was given on November 9, 1989 that makes me the person I am today. I prefer to experience this freedom on a bike,” says the native of Thuringia. The cycling adventurer, who now lives in Scotland, rode 700 kilometers along the Iron Curtain on his gravel bike. Today, the border strip that used to divide Europe is part of the European Green Belt. The former no-man's-land has been transformed into a piece of wild nature since reunification. The film Grenzland combines the nature experience of bikepacking with an exciting tour of our German history. Markus Stitz was supported in his project by the tire manufacturer Schwalbe, who has been providing the bike blogger and filmmaker with tires for his world-spanning bike tours for years.
[Video] Markus Stitz: Border Experiences / A Journey Along The Former Iron Curtain
- Idea: Markus Stitz
- Camera and drone shots: Markus Stitz
- Narration & editing: Markus Stitz
- Music: Nocturne - Asher Fulero, Stars and Constellations - Sarah, the Illstrumentalist, No.4 Piano Journey - Esther Abrami, Delta Wave - Asher Fulero, Wandering Soul - Asher Fulero
- Filmed on: iPhone 7plus, DJI Mavic Pro, DJI Osmo Pocket, Canon G7x Mark III
- Edited in: Final Cut Pro X