Location of many film scenes: ICC tunnel Berlin is to be closed

Famous backdrop
Many Hollywood scenes were filmed here: ICC tunnel in Berlin is to be closed

The “Hunger Games” were filmed here, as well as parts of the “Bourne Supremacy”. In the meantime, however, the ICC tunnel in Berlin, which is so popular with Hollywood, is neglected – it is soon to be closed.

Tourists who in Arriving at the central bus station in Berlin knows him, visitors to the fair anyway. But even some who have never been to the capital themselves might know the ICC tunnel.

After all, the underpass has its place in the pop culture landscape. In Hollywood, the tunnel is a popular backdrop for filming, many film scenes were shot here, as well as some music videos. But that should soon be over: According to reports from the Berlin media, the ICC pedestrian tunnel is to be closed. When exactly that will happen, however, is not yet certain. The “Tagesspiegel” first reported on the planned closure.

Matt Damon and Jennifer Lawrence filmed in the Berlin tunnel

In the past, the tunnel served as a location for some major film productions. In the Bourne series (with Matt Damon as the leading actor), he portrays the Moscow airport. In the film “Mockingjay Part 2” of the “Hunger Games” series, leading actress Jennifer Laurence and her comrades-in-arms seek their way through the tunnel to the Capitol. Scenes for “Captain America: Civil War”, the thriller “Hanna” and the television series “Berlin Station” were also filmed there. And at the Berlinale 2017, the tunnel with its characteristic orange columns even adorned the advertising posters. In addition to Tempelhofer Feld, it was the most popular filming location in Berlin, a location scout from Studio Babelsberg told the Guardian at the time.

But little of the Hollywood glamor is noticeable in everyday life. On the contrary: In the Berlin press landscape, the listed underpass is often referred to as the “Tunnel of Horror”. It has been in bad condition for decades: neglected and dirty, sleeping place for the homeless, defective lamps, it stinks of urine. The maintenance costs are said to amount to 350,000 euros per year, and the authorities believe that accessibility, fire protection and pedestrian safety are not guaranteed. That’s why the Senate and district prefer “to take the system out of service,” as a spokeswoman for the transport administration told RBB. In the future, traffic is to be handled above ground via the road crossing, which has yet to be modernized.

Sources: “daily mirror” / RBB / “Guardians”

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