Görlitz woos residents | DW Documentary

The town of Görlitz in eastern Germany needs more young residents. To attract them, it’s offering a trial stay, with a free apartment and daycare included. A young Berlin family took up the offer. Will the city’s charm win them over?

Görlitz, tucked away in the easternmost corner of Germany, is a charming provincial town. It has a beautiful old city center, affordable rents and plenty of options for recreation nearby. But Görlitz is aging: One third of its 55,000 residents are over the age of 65. And now? The Interdisciplinary Centre for Ecological and Revitalizing Urban Transformation, or IZS, has come up with a creative solution. They’re offering an apartment - rent-free for one month - and support in work and settling in to attract big-city dwellers to their home town. Kevin Kandetzki is a freelance painter willing to try his luck - along with his partner, their newborn baby and their child in daycare. They’ve already braced themselves for a culture shock. The Berlin artists are moving to a city that recently gave 30% of its votes to the far-right AfD party. Will their dream of a new life become a nightmare?

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[kevinstimelsky]

My family immigrated from Gorlitz to Texas a long time ago.. I need to go and visit Gorlitz some day.

[ChristianLehrer]

This was like watching an episode of “Love it or List it” where couples get a deal on a home remodel or a chance to trade up and move. Most don’t move. Kevin comes across as incredibly judgmental and entitled for a self proclaimed street artist. Easily understand both of them wanting the best of both worlds for their family. It’s just so obvious from the outset, that despite the traffic, they really had no intention whatsoever of leaving Berlin. They start bashing the town before they even get there and making broad generalizations about the people they have not even met. They are expecting to start making friends at the park in two weeks and getting to really know the town and the mindset of it’s people in Four Weeks! Seriously? Close minded people, maybe they should look in the mirror!

[vercoda]

An interesting video, with strong parallels to Irish life and culture as, indeed, probably to most countries and cultures. Living in a big city is stressful and demanding and expensive - but there are certain opportunities there too. By contrast, small town or quieter life is very appealing - but can also be very dull, monotonous and closed off. (I’m originally from a small town of about 2, 500 people, but now live in a capital city, so can relate to both lifestyles and outlooks.) Anyway, best of luck to that quiet young family, and in making whatever choice seems right for their needs and wishes...

[OmarDelawar]

The only place I'd move to (from California) is Hamburg - where I grew up as a kid. I miss that place! Not its weather though ;)

[terriblepainter]

This family was against this town from the beginning. In the digital age shouldn’t the artist be able to access the international market he is talking about online? I suspect they are only looking for people that resemble their own culture and interests, and ironically, they are complaining about AfD. Artists in France don’t all live in Paris but throughout the country and often in rural areas.

[davidnonsuch]

11:00 Könnte natürlich auch am Kamera-team und den Mikrofonen liegen.

[michaltakac]

Well, perhaps a street artist from Berlin would not be the best choice for this program to be honest. Someone a bit more traditional in his craft as well as opinions would have a higher chance to find it appealing.

[imsixftsix]

I've watched videos of Gorlitz on YouTube before. I find it charming. The old part of the city doesn't have the recovered from WW2 bombed look. Buildings appear original. Asheville in North Carolina, USA, is a liberal town in the middle of Trumptardialand. Arts, crafts and progressive people abound. Let the hipsters take over. I applaud the town's efforts to import younger folk.

[hfredydl]

Hell I’ll move to Gorlitz from California due to our congestion and prices !!

[robinsingh]

how to avail the feature can anyone explain please?

[krollpeter]

I'm 60 yo wanting to work until 70 at least, so they sure don't want me. I would come to Görlitz with my family, if I knew how to earn my bread.

[till]

Maybe there mindset isn't open enough.

[nemoniente]

...he was expecting to find MAGA hats and Swastikas waving all over the place, but only found a clean, quiet town, so of course he's disappointed... (how is that family "exotic" at all ?)

[juliocesarcandovillegas]

There are thousands of people from conflict countries who would like to start a new life in Germany even if it is a rural place.

[benmike]

Metropolitan is for the young, rural areas are for the retired. It's very obvious.

[mrpeel]

They would have had a better stay at Grand Budapest Hotel ! Lol

[reazn.]

Okay I have to defend my home city now ( I don’t live there anymore because of my family but its my biggest dream to get back ) so first of all the thing with the afd ( I’m far far left and not right ), I lived 13 years in the area around görlitz and I never experienced anything besides maybe some signs in old windows that are “right extreme” and most of the people that are voting for the AFD are over 55, I met like 20 people that were under 30 and said the liked the afd the best, so I think this is a thing that will disappear in the next 10-20 years since normally 70-80 year olds arent really active in politics. ( this is generally is the east parts of germany )

So the point where she talks about culture, (obv this is quite personal ) but I think Görlitz has a lot of culture, its has the most “ancient” I mean like buildings from the 1200-1800 (around 4000 that never got destroyed and are preserved now) also theres alot of culture since it was a big hub in east germany at the time and many people from different cultures are there today but thats just my opinion and I obv dont want to hate here for someones opinion but I thought I just had to say this out of fairness.

[dd]

I have a baby with a woman in Görlitz. I have never met the child. After a long night of fine beer and cold meats we met eyes and the rest is history. One day I will return

[wlboyd]

The AFD must be some scary people. Sounds like the couple is making a good decision to stay in Berlin with its more open minded people. I would appreciate any tips you have to encourage some of the more open minded people here in the USA to move to Berlin.

[sneakpeek]

Ever since the British left india both high and lower caste Hindus began to do genocides of muslims systemically time to time what you see still continued, doing more and the situation now have become more grave because of doing more frequently and fanatically; Majority of Hindus in india have same facisist, Sanghi mentalities; and do have immense hatred in their's hearts like zoinist towards muslims, They all support these RSS, Congress & now BJP terrorists network spread all across India whether they are high caste or low or lower castes Dalits not a single day passes you don't find these reports go unnoticed, they are killing Muslims brutally anywhere and everyday with all supports and terror finances provided by Modi government to its pocket terrorist network working very hard in every nooks and corners of cities and villages.