There is a Border in my Backyard: Living Between Germany and Denmark

Borders are often both tragic and comical – at the same time. And the border as a phenomenon has a huge impact on how we describe and understand Europe right now. We meet a group of people who live on the border between Germany and Denmark – a border which has been invisible since the Schengen agreement. They recently woke up to a strange sight: On the border where people from both sides have considered themselves belonging to the same family, a politically inflamed wild boar fence was raised, like a mythical wall against the Europe of dreams. And when the fence against the plague was finished, the corona virus, which no fence can keep out, arrived.

Director: Jens Loftager
Producer: Mille Haynes – Meta Film Production

For generations, Danes and Germans
have met across the border. They’ve cooperated. They’ve made
friends. They’ve married. At the 100-year anniversary of the Reunion
of North Schleswig with Denmark, they’re met by a fence. The day they put up the fence
in my backyard… … it was on the 30-year anniversary
of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Then we put up a wall here instead. I had all these feelings…
Thad all these feelings…. Thad all these feelings…
I had all these feelings.. The Battle of Bov, April 9th,
and I’m born on April 18th – – and the Reunion and… I felt so much… “I felt so much… And suddenly I didn’t feel a thing. That’s what traumas do to you.
You shut down. Over at that neighbor’s,
there’s no fence. Not here either.
But… and this is the funny part… I’ve just entered Germany
without my passport. I don’t fucking care. At the green electricity box over there
is where the fence starts. The area just behind it is
where the border runs on Google. 7 I don’t think Google should get to define
the borders around the world. So it ran across graveyards and orchards. Bundesgrenze They even dug up the Gendarme Path
and put the fence smack in the middle. I can feel that I’m just… speechless. Last week, the government and the People’s
Party agreed to erect a 70-km long fence – ==
– along the Danish-German border. I yelled and I screamed. SER HEGN
Tyelled and I screamed. All I could do was grab a few bottles
of liquor and go sit on the bench. ould do was grab a few bottles No matter who approached me,
I gave them a talking-to. I told journalists to get lost!
And everyone else. THERE IS A BORDER IN MY BACKYARD HENRIK GARNOV The aim is to keep out wild boar
infected with African swine fever – . The aim is to keep out wild boar*
The aim is to keep out wild boar % The aim is to keep out wild boar :
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00:03:34,800 –> 00:03:34,440
infected with African swine fever so they won’t infect Danish pig herds
with the virus. – so they won’t infect Danish pig herds MILLE HAYNES
I HUVUULIL I TIULUULIT ITIUVUULIL
ITIUDUULIL ODUUL
TIULUULUT Y Here, Southern Jutlanders welcomed
King Christian X at the Reunion Oh dear, good morning. On my way across the room,
I went through the rotten board. “What the hell,” I thought. But down there, I found
that it was nice and cool down there. OMO So l put a mattress down there
and slept there on hot nights. So I put a mattress down there And then I usually go to my workshop.
And sometimes, beautiful things happen. The coffee tastes better here. Whoops. Yorbante
Helser Der er ingen
portale lser pelser
Ruens uens evens
74
00:05:29,400 –> 00:05:29,280
clevens There are no wrong feelings goelser ddelser
Making demands is the hardest thing. drels Yorkerle
forker I must make demands
Der KEEP
lytter til I listen to my insecurity
min usikkerhed Usikkerhed
Remember to praise yourself. Danmark
Tyskland Fle
Fle! FLE Dana Come along, porkers. If you look at a map,
we’re far down south. MI
W We have a border crossing at Sofiedal
about 700-800 meters from here. We have a border It was the German border patrol
that patrolled the border- VANDRO that patrolled the border –
FrANDRO ANDRO
AJ 31 30 FANDROS – with pistols and machine guns.
You respected the border. But now we don’t look at it
as a border. Our graduation caps arrived today. I’m so looking forward to June 22nd – – when we finally get to wear them. I put a lot of effort
into designing my cap – – because it’s been such a long
and difficult journey for me – – that I really want to celebrate.
ANE HE
HH Nice stage. Flensburg d
nd and
(and cand
land ktand
kland hland
skland Vskland
(Vskland V skland
Iskland Kland
136
00:08:28,800 –> 00:08:28,680
P41 784 XP 41 784
KP 41 784 P 41 784 We’re here at Vilmkær,
where I grew up. EMARK VEMARK NO. –
EMARK NO. where I grew up MDU NO.
NO where I grew up
MARK NO where I grew up. My
where I grew upMARK. We have the barn on the Danish side.
MAH the Danish side.
MAHK We have the barn on the Danish lica
We have the barn on the Danishida we have the barn on the Danish side. The farmhouse over there
is also on the Danish side. If we face this way
and I walk one meter, I’m in Germany. This is the German barn,
built by my grandfather in 1927 – ADEMARK – after the problems
at the Reunion in 1920. EARARK at the Reunion in 1920.59
at the Reunion in 1920.5 AS at the Reunion in 1920.B5 When they drew the border in 1920,
it had a lot of bends down here. at the Reunion in 1920.5
CHLESW CHLESWAY PCHLESWI
CCHLESW LESW SCHLESW
CTLESW CHLESWA
Can TLESW
SCHLES SCHLESWA PCHLESWA
SHLESW MCTLESWA
LESWA As you can see on the map. SCHLESWIG SCHLESWI
SCHLE: SCHLESY There was a referendum, and everyone
thought this would be German. On the streets of Flensburg
prior to the referendum. DIAKS But it didn’t turn out that way, and my
grandfather didn’t want to belong there. Habla’s Hablols
Hable’s Hable
Habl Habln’s But the fact is that
they cut the farm in half. They drew the border
alongside the yard – GRÆNSE
– and the Germans rolled out a lot
of barbed wire to mark the border. GRANSE:
GRÆNSE: GRNSE
GRANSE GRENSE
and the Germans rolled out a lot In- and the Germans rolled out a lot
GR and the Germans rolled out a lot Chr- and the Germans rolled out a lot
Il- and the Germans rolled out a lot GR Land the Germans rolled out a lot The fields belonging to the farm are
still German, but they cut through it – VE – dividing the farm into two.
That’s when all the trouble started. First of all, they couldn’t go shopping
in Ellund that was only 1.5 km away. They were permitted to go as far
as their fields went . Then the grocer was only 300 m away.
But they weren’t allowed to go there. There was a customs official,
so it ended there. He uses the German land
but has difficulty selling his produce. He has dairy cattle, horses, pigs
and chickens. Back then,
the milk went into milk cans – – and was transported
by horse and carriage back to Denmark. It was a problem to send the livestock
out to grass. They had to be inspected by a Danish vet
and a German vet as well as customs. Each animal had to be inspected,
sO we had to round them all up. so we had to round them all up. And when customs…
or rather the border police back then – – came to earmark each animal,
we had to round them up again. The Germans got suspicious,
so they froze his money. That’s just the way it was. In 1927, the barn on the
other side of the road is built – other side of the road is built– – so he has a place for storage. The horses that were on the German side
weren’t allowed to enter Denmark. My father had a brother
living in Germany – – who wasn’t allowed to enter
the farmhouse in Denmark. So what he did was… He found a table
like the one I’m sitting at. like the found a tablog at He placed it on the border-
He placed it on the border – – which was just a dirt road back then. He placed the table on the border
and invited everyone. Those of German descent
sat on the German side – – and those of Danish descent
sat on the Danish side. That way, people could sit together. The guards went back and forth
but they couldn’t do anything. They had a lot of fun with that. Your mother made these.
There. Let’s try it. This is the third reading
of Bill L 228 – d reading – concerning the erection of a wild boar
fence along the Danish-German border – fence along the Danish-German border- – proposed by the
Minister for Environment and Food. T had heard mumblings – of this proposed fence. I was watching the news. Does anyone have anything to say? No. In that case,
we will put the bill to the vote. SCHLESWIVE CCHLESWI
SCHLESWIE And they said
Denmark was getting a fence. SCHLESWU
PCHLESWE PCHLESWIO SCALESWIO
SCALESWI OCHLES
SCHLESWY PLHLESWI
PCHLESW SCHLESWE
THE BORDER I thought,
“Oh no. Not again.” That’s not gonna happen.
That would be plain crazy. The result of the vote is:
77 in favor, 21 against. The bill is passed
and will be sent to the PM. Now, a process is initiated
with lightning speed. It’s 68 km long
and costs 80 million kroner. well’s 60 km long It hasn’t yet been decided
just what the fence – – meant to keep out swine fever
is going to look like. So I got a letter – – inviting me to
an information meeting… Information…
about the wild boar fence. Not a hearing or… at which you can express
your opinion or anything. … at which you can express As the owner of the property that’s
gonna get a fence, I’d better show up. I tell my father that he’d better go
and he says he certainly intends to. – Are you okay?
– Yes. It wasn’t odd of me to come,
because I was annoyed about that fence. I’d never seen a wild boar here
in my life. And the fence was to have gaps. So I’m the only one to get the fence? A shame I don’t have pigs, but I’ll suffer
other losses because of the fence. 98% or even 100% of the people
at the hearing – – weren’t very happy or smiling. It was obvious – – that they wanted to roll it out fast. This is one of the six trial fences – – that will determine how to erect the
permanent fence in different soil types. Normally, if you don’t want
the livestock to cross a certain point – – you remove the top soil
and place iron grids – – to keep out the livestock. This is grossly exaggerated.
It’s insane. Is Benny supposed to watch Netflix
through a fence – – because the TV is on the other side
of the fence? What’s got into you? -because the TV is on the other side 1 of the fence? What’s got into you? It’s a stupid place to put it:
Not only location-wise but mentally It’s a stupid place to put it.
It’s a stupid place to put it Not only location-wise but mentally.
188 2 U
FAXE KONDI FAXE KOND
FAXE RONDI FAKE KONDI
FAKE KOND AU 28 056 LAU 28 056
CAU 28 056 LAU 28056
BAU 28 056 “We’re just here to tell you about
the fence. Complain to the others.” “We re just here to tell you about “We re just here to tell you about.
We’re just here to tell you about “Were just here to tell you about “But who reports to them? You do.” RP
The poor people are under attack.. The poor people are under attack.
“But who reports to them? You do.” I WEY
We weren’t involved. VE GLEMT
We wereh’t involved.VE GLEMT dVE GLEMT
alVE GLEMT VEGLEMT
dVEGLEMT ISKAL IKKE BLIVE GLEMT Our YOU SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN
Our opinions were irrelevant. Hi. Good morning. – Whose car is this?
– My dad’s. – Nice. He let you borrow it today?
– Yes, but only today. – What did you do yesterday?
– I did a thrilling math project. I didn’t really understand it,
so it was a bit frustrating. – I’ll ask my teacher about it today.
– Good idea. You’ll work it out, then. – Did you do your psychology homework?
– Yes, it was really interesting. do
– Did
you – What was it about?
– Cognitive psychology. – What? It has do to with the human mindset,
feelings and actions. Interesting. I planned to do it today and remembered
we have P.E., so that was perfect. TT7 Have you heard about
the wild boar fence along the border? Yes, I’ve heard about it.
I went to see it, actually. Seriously?
– It doesn’t make sense. – Seriously? It has gaps for the tractors to go
through, so the whole thing’s pointless. And if it really is
to stop the wild boar, which I doubt – – they can swim, so… they can swim, so… It’s pure tokenism.
And people don’t give a damn. If I asked people at school about it – – they may have heard about the fence,
but that’s it. – It doesn’t really matter to them.
– I think that’s rather disappointing. – Did your bring your passport?
– Yes. And my driver’s license. He looks skeptical already. – Any goods to declare?
– No. Proceed. – Thanks. No goods?
Thanks. No goods? Any goods to declare?
Tobacco? – Cigarettes.
– How many? Let’s check the boot. Lucky
– Lucky. – They hardly ever stop me.
– Me neither. Graasten Palace and apples.
381
00:21:14,400 –> 00:21:14,280
IS The famed herbaceous borders. P
AT A I was 16
when I became an apprentice here. TA It was in Queen Ingrid’s day. I saw Søren Ryge’s film
about the queen and her garden. It was interesting. And then my Aunt Ruth said… You wanted to be a caretaker
and I suggested you be a gardener. Alright then. – You lived near Frøslev. I sent my application
in a green envelope – ENDURANCE – so it wouldn’t disappear
on the gardener’s table. I went to a job interview. “When can you start?”.
I started three days later. “When can you start?” I’m planting flowers…
Remember the old gardener’s song? Remember planting flowere’s somez – How does it go?
– Planting smiles, planting sunshine. I learnt how to do bouquets
and flower arrangements. Pruning… ENOURANG Plant names.
We have thousands of flowers here. We have thousands of frowers here.
We have th Pulant garfowers here, We have thPlant games towers here.
ENDUPANCE We have thouant angrep flowers here. ENDUANCE
NDUANCE We have thought armor towers here.
ENDUANC ACE
learnt a lot. I learnt a lot. That really got me into… patriotism. Not the patriotism of today.
ENQURANCE ENOURANCE Today, it’s mistaken for fascism
and xenophobia. NOURANCE I remember Queen Ingrid standing
by the gate to the Princess Garden – N – on her way to the nursery.
She couldn’t open the door. I know how to address the royals,
and in my confusion – – I forgot all about protocol:
“Hey, I’ll show you.” I forgot all about protocol: Without batting an eyelid, she gave me
the keys and I unlocked the door. My dad was German. A German soldier. It’s not uncommon for them
to fall for blonde Danish girls. The child inherited its father’s
nationality, so I was German. So was my big sister.
She’s still German, I think. In hindsight – – I’m a bit ashamed of having been German,
because I wasn’t. It just said so in my passport. At 17, I was drafted in Flensburg – – and I was headed for Bavaria
as a medical orderly. I was German at the time,
so I worked here on a special permit. I became a Danish national at the age
of 18, so I really am Danish. I think that’s when I started parading
how very Danish I was. The Flensburg Referendum
March 14, 1920. den 14 TS” 1920.
den 14 1920. den 14MarVa 1920.
den 14 t 1920. den 14 HS 1920.
At the polling station. Southern Jutland is Danish again.
Christian X crosses the border. I was immediately drafted in Denmark. The Danish International Brigade
gave you a chance to see the world – gave you a chance to see the worlds
gave you a chance to see the world- ngave you a chance to see the world – – almost like going backpacking,
I was fascinated and signed up. – almost like going backpacking. The queen’s gardener
is on his way to Bosnia det srt ee an
det srt e exs rhe queen’s gardener
AerereThe queen’s gardener ce The queen’s gardener I went to Doboj, Bosnia
with Stabilisation Force unit 4. We flew to Zagreb
and went onwards by bus – – across some bridge in Slovanski Brod. On the one side,
the buildings were unscathed – the builon the one side,
the buon the one side. the buon the one side, the builom the one side, – and on the other side,
the Serbs had wreaked havoc. . and on the other side,
3- and on the other side, 2- and on the other side,
and on thé other side, This was the real deal.
This was the realkdeal . | This was the reakdeal .
This was the realk deal. This was the reak deal.
We.replaced the blanks with live rounds. We replaced the blanks with live rounds. Then we drove another 200 km
into the war. I did two tours
separated by six months at home. eparated in two tour
separated olid two tours separated die two tour
separated she two tours They never told us about… There were dead people all over
the place, and the stench was awful. Cultural clashes
and the fallout of war – – they never briefed us on that. I thought they were a bunch of idiots. Absolutely. After having seen
what war does to people – – you come home to people
bickering over the bus fare. Completely irrelevant complaints.
What a bunch of idiots! They ought to try real hardships.
I started drinking heavily – – instead of eating, because I couldn’t
even afford to make spaghetti. I needed booze to survive.
A GMA WOOD I saw people, but it was the
wrong crowd. Drinking buddies. I more or less lived at the bar.
I had my own tab. My discipline was all about – – having enough money for a certain day
so I could get my fill of alcohol. I didn’t hide it. If you looked under my bed,
you’d find 300 vodka bottles. The authorities had good reason
to get me and have my head examined. They put me on early retirement
at 27 – – and I wasn’t proud of being
a pensioner at 27. – and I wasn’t proud of being TANI CORP VEYLA I’d abandoned the discipline
that I’d learnt in the army.
VEYLAND that I’d learnt in the army. ITANI CORP
that I’d learnt in the army. UTANI CORP. that I’d learnt in the army. UTANI COFRP
that I’d learnt in the army.YUTANI COFRP that I’d learnt in the army. UTANI CORE
that I’d learnt in the army. UTANI CORP Get up in the morning
and do your chores. the morning But I’ve reconnected with it.
It took me 20 years. I felt like a giant loser. Totally. I’d gotten myself an education,
and for what? Hell, that was… That was bad. We re here in the south of Denmark
on an old farm where l grew up I on an old farm where I grew up –
_ on an old farm where I grew up – We’re here in the south of Denmark
u on an old farm where I grew up — on an old farm where I grew up
on an old farm where I grew up – – on the border, but where we are now
is still in Denmark. I recently took over the farm
from my parents. | I’m the fourth or fifth generation here. I’ve been away for many years.
I was born and raised here. I’ve been in farming for many years,
but I wanted to try something else, too. Frankly speaking
Frankly speaking- Frankly speaking – – having to work around the clock
seven days a week as a teenager… You got a bit tired of it
in relation to your friends. But coming back after all these years
and taking it over makes me proud. uyang kunt u It’s a huge process. There are
so many memories, so many things. I’ve discovered that it’s a subject that
is hard to talk about with my family. It’s one thing to say:
“If we die, it has to be like this.” Fine. Anyone can discuss that at a Christmas
lunch or in a casual conversation. But if you delve into the subject matter
and say… But if you delve into the subject matter | “Who wants what?”
“Is this a fair way of sharing it?”. “Is this a fair way of sharing it?” “How we do go about it?”
Then it gets complicated. I don’t know.
00000000 000000000
e It’s getting better,
but it’s been a difficult process. I must say. HEGET H:GT.
HG.T G T So, we haven’t become any plumper – – in the time I’ve been here.
00 – I’ve been happy there.
– That’s for sure. That’s for sure. I’ve always called it my paradise.
eee But then I had to leave paradise.
000 eve It’s a huge process. It’s one thing
to do the handover on paper. Paper is grateful in all regards. It’s another thing when the time comes
for you to move out. It’s been an immense process for them.
I know that for a fact. – The New Year’s ball.
– Yes, at Varde trade guild. My soldier buddies and I
went to the ball – – and we checked out the pretty girls. MS – I noticed Kitty looking at me.
– Did I? Yes, I think so. But I was on late-pass
so I had a curfew. 0000000000 – But we said our goodbyes…
– We didn’t talk much.
594
00:33:01,800 –> 00:33:01,680
10000 0000 But you told me you were taking
an English course in Varde. And you were due there…
I don’t remember what day. But you offered me to meet you there
and so we did. 00000000000 NE
And we’ve been together ever since. 0000000001 I had two older brothers
and they were both at college – – so I was the only one left –
21ENE 00000
21NLE 2000000 21E NL – and my parents were happy
to hand over the farm to me. This place is filled with memories.
T’ve inherited their life’s work. I don’t want to clear everything out. It makes it hard for me
to furnish it with my own things – to furnish it with my own things – because we have to deal
with all their stuff first. This is Padborg Theater. I was born up there on the first floor
behind those windows. was bornup-there on the first floor
first floor1 I was born up-there on the first floor
was born up there on the first floor behind-those windows. behind-those windows..
623
00:34:34,800 –> 00:34:34,320
3A
behindthose windows.. They showed movies here back then,
and my Dad showed them. I’ve sat under the seats
and watched a lot of films. This is Østergade, my old hood.
The street where I grew up. Every house had children back then. Down there in the woods
lived the wood children. My uncle and aunt lived there
with their three children – – so I was both a wood
and an Østergade child. I lost my dad as an infant, so I was taken
in by my aunt and uncle who had a cafe. These woods really are
my childhood playground. We saw a TV show about rubberwood,
so we hung buckets in the trees – – and cut them
in the hope of producing rubber. 11 I think these woods are wonderful – – and they mark the border to Germany. We hopped and skipped across the border
all the time. 1and We’re approaching the Gendarme Path – – along which the gendarmes patrolled
the border back then. The young girls from town
shined themselves up – – and went for walks here to accompany
all the young, handsome gendarmes. It really is a beautiful
and romantic path. and romantic path.. As a child I roamed here.
Germany was right over there. It annoyed me that that house was in
Germany, because I’d like to live there. I thought it was a palace,
/but then I found out – +/”but then I found out –
– but then I found out – but then I found out
but then I found out – – that it wasn’t actually in Germany. Only
the driveway. The house is in Denmark. It’s an old patrician villa – – that we bought back in the day.
Our dream house. As you can see,
it’s very close to the border. Bundesgrenz
As you bundesgrenz The boundary marker is very close
to the house. Here is the boundary marker – – marking that this is Germany. It’s placed at an angle to show
where Germany begins. Benny wanted Denmark to go
to the old border at the Eider. So when we planned the patio – – he thought it a good idea
to take back just a piece of Denmark. So we built the patio
around the boundary marker. You can see the boundary marker here
on the patio. When we had dinner guests,
we put the grill on the boundary marker. We always asked them if they wanted
a German or a Danish sausage – – depending on which side of the marker
they were on. Two years later…
They wanted to move fast. So two years later, they began
putting up the fence in my garden. But not quite as agreed. It was supposed to stand on the border.
He was supposed to stand on the bat He was supposed to stand on the border
I was supposed to stand on the border It was supposed to stand on the border It’s an important day to complete
the erection the fence – the erection the fence
Fade – Parliament tasked us with
10 months ago. So we’re very happy. Faa
Me Fede All the old memories came flooding back. Poof! There they were again.
We’re back there again. The border ataKrusaa is guarded
by freedom fighters, Englishmen – – the Danish Brigade in Sweden
and Danish police officers. Pi
S She e Se
Pia han
Bae My family fought for years on end
to get this back to Denmark. And then this happens.
It’s not the fence as such, but still. It sends a clear signal: This far… And then either the Danes
don’t want to go further south- – or else those down south
aren’t welcome. That’s what it signals. It just reopened all that. When a free Danish national
has a border in his back garden – – it’s as if your freedom
hangs by a thread. Planned withdrawal. Amid all the confusion
about the fence in my back garden – – the thing was – – that I have service dogs that helped
PTSD veterans buried on my land. Because they’d moved their
monumental construction, their fence – it now ran across those graves. – it now ran across those graves. I couldn’t do a thing. So every day, I could go out
in my garden and look at that. I was powerless. CORP
ORP Beautiful. I remember numerous trips,
when I was a boy, to town and back. Hundreds of times, we were stopped
and asked to identify ourselves – – and threatened by the border patrol.
Sometimes even forbidden to go home. As a boy, my dad once went into the
field to play with some German children. He was arrested and taken away.
He wasn’t a grown-up but still a child. The same thing happened
when we came to help out. We crossed the border
50 times a day – – because the barn and the land
are in Germany. If we went one meter too far,
they accosted us again. That form of control affects people. And now that I’m going to be driving
around here where I grew up… I know the Danish side like the back
of my hand within quite a large radius. US
WEDPA
AMRS 2 2UN If I move two kilometers
across the border, I’m lost. I’ve never been there. It didn’t exist. The meeting at the warrior graves.
When I went off to war again – – in 1998-1999, you still had to show
your passport at the border. A veteran from 1848
When I came back home – – the Schengen Agreement
had been signed. I felt like this was the exact reason
why I went to war. To come home to that. Sure, I was traumatized – – but it was also a consolation
– but it was also a consolation. Great! This is the free world
I fought for. This is what I bleed for,
as a Dane. Openness. Do you want to go down there?
Let’s go through here. I haven’t been back here in years. We used to have big lawn here.
I used to mow those slopes there. Tused to mow those slopes there. Benny and I used to sit on a bench
overlooking the ravine, holding hands – – and promising each other eternal love.
That didn’t happen. That’s how it goes. In the summer, we biked across
the green border to Nyhus – – and went swimming at Wassersleben – – a fancy beach with fancy guys.
I think that was why. My friend and I saved up
to go to Flensburg – I saved up so – and in the basement of Karstadt
you could buy half a chicken – 后 – and eating that was
the highlight of the month. HDH E JIRGENE gewandleislen The boar fence solution costs millions. It spans 68 km including
2.2 km of gaps. I’d say it’s 15% effective. On the other hand,
if the swine fever spread to here – – all the papers would ask why the devil
they hadn’t put up a boar fence. I’m fed up with taking a stand. It’s not exactly a pretty sight – – but does it make a difference?
I suppose so, but not a big one. Our German neighbor understands it. But it’s kind of half-hearted – – and putting up a fence between you and
your neighbor just doesn’t look good. Try doing it to your neighbor at home. – Hi, Mr. Sporn.
– Hi, Mr. Jürgensen. – This one or this?
– Thanks. TS JRTS ORTF Prost.
– Cheers. – Prost.
SPORTF Jakob, how many years
have we been meeting here? HLA – You’re 53?
No. POLARL – It’s more than 40 years. And we haven’t aged one bit. – No, only our parents.
– Yes, they’ve aged but not us. Remember when
we crossed the border together? NENE
we crossed the border together? O – Yes or no. How old was 1? Seven?
– Seven or eight. GTEMEN – Yes or no. How old was I? Seven?
ETEMEN NENSLP – I wasn’t really allowed.
– No, but we crossed it. NEDELE, We played.
And we crossed it. NNELL It was like when old Inspector Derrick
swooped in with his men. – I was scared shitless.
– We hid in the kitchen. – What do you think we might find?
– Oh dear… What do you think we might find? Anything from scrap to coins. You know that fortune favors the fool
so we ought to be in luck. That’s probably just scrap. Hey! Now that… I doubt it’s anything,
but let’s dig. – There’s a slag layer.
– Let’s see. – Here we go.
– An Odense beer? No, a fucking Thor. an Odense Here we go fucking Thor. -A Slots. -No.
ce – From the other side of the border.
– That’s the life of a detector pilot. It’s from the old border. Good God. They’ve anchored it now. – It’s not a pretty sight.
– Nope. If I tell people in Germany
that I have German relatives – – they consider me German. But they don’t know anything
about the Danish part. People ought to hear more
about the borderland – – but those living down south
don’t really know what it’s like – – to live so close to the border. If I moved to Odense and told people
I was from the borderland – – people just think
it’s where they go to buy cheap goods. Everyone immediately thinks
cross-border shopping and cheap beer. inn n I’m from an island with giant dunes,
howling sea and perfect idyll. T I’m from a tiny village
with more sheep than people – – and long, white sandy beaches,
and hell, I miss that time. I miss the cold wind, the rare amber and
the tasty mussels that I always found. I miss the seagulls’ song and
the nice evenings with Mom and Dad – – and old stories of floods
and whaling. I miss my childhood, my very first home,
the place I’ll never forget. Where melancholy
and family and love are in the air. Where my anchor is lodged
in the roots of old. The place I soon and never left.
Zollauenzhezirk bezirk. I’m from a land
that was never my practical home – – but where I still go every day
because I love it. Because my heart beats in time
with you, us and them. Because I’ve always said
that home is where my heart is – – regardless of kin or blood
but based on feelings and security. And then you ask me where I and my
accent and many stories come from – – and I reply: From where
black and white become grey. Where the Golden Horns lay. Where
languages mix, and culture and us. Where borders are open
and nobody fights. Here is my home. Here are my roots. High on a branch a crow sat… My body loves me for this
My body loves me for this. STATSMINISTEREN Welcome to yet another briefing
at the PM’s Office. My message tonight will impact
every Dane immensely. As of tomorrow at noon – – the Danish borders will close
temporarily. Corona bench – 18 April 2020 CALM Right over there is Germany. I can see cars driving in Nyhus. I wonder what they’re up to today
on Palm Sunday. I miss them as neighbors.
As someone you just pop by. Because I feel like
we’re all one big border family. We grew up in the same surroundings. With the same cultural experiences.
We’ve seen the same German TV. It’s so beautiful here
and I feel related to them. It’s Saturday evening,
and Flensburg is deserted. It’s weird because restaurants,
bars and shops are closed – – so people don’t really know
what to do. I don’t either. I’m out for a walk, but it’s boring – – because you don’t meet a soul. The town is deserted.
The restrictions are working. People are staying at home,
which is good, of course. People are staying at home But I can’t help wondering
what life will be like – – when all this is over. – But I was allowed to look after him.
– Great. Great. – Have you seen my fence ornament?
– It’s nice. Nobody’s swiped it yet.
It’s all pumped and ready to go. – It was just standing here.
– Did you make the bench? It was because the Germans were there – – and the Danes here, because of corona. Sweethearts kissed through the fence – – and grilled sausages
and handed them through the fence. Like when Benny and I grilled You’d think they’d go through
the gap in the fence. I guess they’re afraid of…
guess they’re afraid of… The Germans had closed it off
along the border. Hi. – Aren’t you Rolf Warnke?
– That’s right. And you’re Ruth. – Are you from Flensburg originally? – I grew up in Südermark.
– Oh, Südermark? Okay. dermark? Okay. I have Danish ties
because my wife is Danish. From Als. I have some ties to Flensburg. I didn’t learn Danish at school,
only through my Danish wife. Our three children all went
to the Danish school in Flensburg. First Harreslev and then Duborg School. I had two sons-in-laws
that went to Duborg School. I had two sons-in-laws ||
I had two sons-in-laws | Thad two sons-in-laws ||
It was quite funny, actually. We lived here then,
and my daughters… Here come the police. I love walking in the woods
and the Gendarme Path is ruined. I agree.
I love the landscape here – – but it’s not a pretty sight. No, it’s an eyesore.
No, it’s an eyesore.* *** Novit’s an eyesore.
No, it’s an eyesore: And what’s it good for? They’re trying to prevent
the swine fever from spreading. *- the swine fever from spreading:
the swine fever from spreading. 35 the swine fever from spreading..
the swine fever from spreading.py the swine fever from spreading
the swine fever, from spreading. w the swine fever from spreading
the swine fever from spreading: the swine fever from spreadings
the swine fever from spreading, * You can sneak a peek here
You can sheak a peek here. You can sneak a peek here.
– You can sneak a peek here. 2. You can sneak a peek here
You can sneak a peek here.” *You can sneak a peek here.”
-You can sneak a peek here. a You cansneak a peek here. Now, nature and the virus
have besieged us. Nature will prevail.
It will survive. OHOS
SUPRAX It’s all ablaze now. There we go. Old technology in new hands. It’s much easier
to press a button for power. This is your mom
and your Aunt Jutta. urbn y urbnyi urbn yts K
urbr Aren’t they adorable? You can tell by their clothes
that their mom was German. – Really?
– Yes, with the aprons and such. on y Right, and the shoes.
They sure are cute. Before the Reunion,
Granddad and Great-Granddad fell out – – because Granddad lived in Sønderhav
and voted in favor of Denmark. Great-Granddad lived in Flensburg
and voted in favor of Germany – – and the border was drawn at Flensburg. They weren’t on speaking terms
afterwards. – For how many years?
– The rest of their lives. The rest of their lives.
– For how many years? – We originate from South Germany.
– It’s odd. This happened at the Reunion
100 years ago. But when my grandparents
met each other – – it was just after the war.
포츠 KI And she was pro-German
and he was Danish through and through. So it caused a stir that she was German,
and I think that’s odd. When you live down here, you just have
to accept that people are different. Some people don’t mind differences. Others want clear borders. But your grandparents loved your dad. They loved him dearly. And he was German
and my mom was Danish. – Hello, Jakob.
– Hello, Thomas. – How are you doing?
– Fine. Look what I’ve got for you. You’re a good man. – How are you?
– Fine. Cheers. Dong Ding D Ding Dong
Oing Dong AL
YAL You have corona problems
on your side as well, right? – Yes, but luckily not with the cattle.
– You’d better fix your hair. It’s the old hat. Yes, it’s not a problem for the cattle
but it sure is for people. We hope it’ll be better by Christmas. The good thing is
that it doesn’t kill you. No, but we want to live again.
It’s such a shame… In Germany, you can only get infected
in your spare time. Not at work. We can’t go out to eat, we can’t play
football. We can’t do anything fun. – Only work.
– Only work. And that’s a shame. We want to have fun. Oh my God! People will remember our graduation.
Not because we were remarkable – – or any different than
your average graduation class – – but because we graduated in a pandemic
which turned our lives upside down. Graduation project without supervision.
The Spanish class visit was canceled. The prom was canceled.
Online teaching for weeks. No contact with our classmates.
The final exam without the cap ceremony. tat But we must not let corona define
our high school years. Yes, we’ve missed out on a lot. Yes, it’s a shame that our last weeks
of school weren’t normal – – and as fun as other graduate classes. Yes, I know it will probably
overshadow everything else – – when we look back on our
high school years in 5-10-15 years. Three months ago, a virus showed us
that some things we just can’t change – that some things we just can’t change – even if we want to. We will experience that many more times.
We will experience tragedies. We will be treated unfairly. We will make the wrong choices. But I hope we’ll always have the courage
to change the things we can change. We must not pretend to accept
the unacceptable. We must not let anyone else
tell us who we are tell us who we are – – what we want
and what it’s supposed to look like. If you want to have one,
two or ten gap years, do it. If you want to study abroad, do it. If you don’t want to study at all
but go traveling, do it. We decide what the future looks like. We’re on our way to the sled hill. PAY
It was all of Padborg’s sled hill. The great thing about it is
that it transcends borders. You get on the sled in Germany
and go down to Denmark. Then you drag the sled back up to Germany
and go back down to Denmark. In that sense, it had this way –
that sense, it had this way in that sense it had this way.
in that sense, it had this way In that sense, it had this way.
– of bringing us together. Let me see if I can squeeze my behind
through here… I could. Our garden was down there.
our garden was down there. V