The Wall

The Wall

Year: 1962

Runtime: 9 mins

Language: English

Director: Walter de Hoog

Documentary

Compiled in 1962 by Walter de Hoog from U.S. and German newsreel footage, this taut short film chronicles the inaugural year of the Berlin Wall. Its straightforward, balanced narration portrays Berliners as “accepting the wall but never resigned to it,” while striking footage of the first escape attempts supplies the powerful human element behind the propaganda.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Wall (1962)

Trace every key event in The Wall (1962) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Arrival at the hunting lodge

An unnamed woman travels with her two friends, Hugo and Luise, and their loyal dog Lynx to a remote hunting lodge in the Austrian Alps. They plan a quiet summer in the isolated cabin. The mood is uneasy as they settle in for a season cut off from the outside world.

Austrian Alps, hunting lodge
2

Invisible barrier blocks the road

The morning after their arrival, the woman and Lynx discover an invisible wall that blocks passage toward the village. She tries repeatedly to pass, even attempting to drive through, but the barrier holds firm. The world beyond becomes a prison of silence and stillness.

the morning after arrival Road to village near the lodge
3

Village and people appear dead

From a distance, the woman realizes the village is emptied of life and that the people seem frozen in time. A farmhouse shows owners who appear lifelike yet motionless. The eerie discovery deepens her sense of isolation and fear.

Village and farmhouse
4

Bella the cow becomes a lifeline

While wandering the area, she encounters a cow and decides to keep it, naming it Bella. The animal becomes both a lifeline for food and a burden to manage in isolation. The bond with Bella grounds her amid mounting loneliness.

Roads and fields near the lodge
5

Hugo's car crash at the barrier

In a bid to reach the village, she drives Hugo's car toward the barrier, hoping to break through. The car crashes against the invisible wall, leaving them still trapped. The incident underlines the impossibility of escape.

Road to the village
6

Survival begins; cat joins the household

Fighting despair, she decides to endure the summer by tending Bella, gathering food, and marking time on a calendar. A stray cat arrives, bringing a fragile sense of companionship, while Lynx remains her faithful, if weary, friend.

The lodge
7

Journey to a higher pasture brings solace

She hikes to another lodge tucked in a high mountain pasture, where warm sun and birds lift her spirits. The scenery offers a reprieve from fear and reinforces her capacity to endure. The experience begins a personal shift toward resilience.

High mountain pasture
8

Pearl the white cat is born

During that summer, the stray cat gives birth to a white kitten named Pearl. The new life adds tenderness to a harsh routine and symbolizes a glimmer of renewal. Mother and kitten become part of the small world she tends.

High mountain pasture
9

Harvesting hay reinforces routine

She spends time harvesting hay in the meadow, establishing a steady rhythm of work and care. The task blends with animal husbandry and the need to provide sustenance. The routine brings a sense of normalcy to an extraordinary life.

summer Meadow above the lodge
10

Pearl dies in a wind storm

Autumn winds claim Pearl, the white kitten, ending a brief period of lighter joy. The loss compounds the loneliness but also hardens her resolve to survive. She records the event as part of the ongoing narrative of life at the lodge.

fall Meadow/high pasture
11

The first entry: 5 November

On 5 November, she begins writing a 'report' on the back of old calendars and stationery. The act of writing becomes a counterpoint to the solitude, a way to organize memory and meaning. The document frames her experience in a way that keeps civilization at arm's length.

5 November Lodge interior
12

The cow gives birth to a calf

On 11 January, Bella gives birth to a calf, adding new responsibility and hope amid the winter. The arrival of new life shifts her routine and reaffirms her reason to persevere. The calf becomes an emotional anchor as conditions remain harsh.

11 January Lodge/Narrow valley
13

A second summer: departure for the pasture

After a year at the lodge, she and the animals leave the narrow valley and climb to the high mountain pasture for a second summer. The warmer season brings a sense of renewal and hints at becoming part of a larger whole. The move marks a turning point in her inner transformation.

25 May High mountain pasture
14

Murder and revenge in the pasture

In June, while returning with Lynx, she witnesses a stranger kill Bella's calf with an ax and then murder the loyal dog. She shoots the intruder with her rifle and rolls the corpse off a high cliff, then buries Lynx in a deep hole. The next morning she and Bella leave the pasture and return to the narrow valley.

June High mountain pasture
15

Autumn to winter: harvest and the final report

Back in the narrow valley, she harvests potatoes and fruits as winter approaches. The cycle continues into winter and spring, and on 25 February she runs out of paper and ends her report. The act closes a long, solitary chronicle of life in exile from civilization.

October–February Narrow valley

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 12:13

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The Wall Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Wall, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Wall Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Wall

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Wall. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Wall

More About The Wall

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More About The Wall