Armchair Travelling Into the World of Tiki

When Barack Obama visits Berlin on Thursday, 24 July 2008, a number of roads will be closed to traffic. Consequently, you will be able to access the House of World Cultures in the following ways only: from Hauptbahnhof, or by taking the M85 bus, or by car along Willy-Brandt-Straße or the Bettina-von-Arnim-Ufer.

Documentary, Germany 2008, colour, 60 min, English original version

The film presents Donn the Beachcomber, globetrotter and inventor of the South Sea Bar; Trader Vic, founder of the worldwide Tiki-Bar chain in the best hotels; pianist Martin Denny, the high-priest of Exotica Music – and many more besides. A glance over the director’s shoulder at an extensive documentary due for release this autumn: on the origins of South Sea magic, and the heyday and decline of Tiki styles. Hirschfeld, the director, and his Armchair Travelling Guerilla Filmteam spent three years travelling the globe in search of Tikis on islands and peninsulas.