They still exist, these films that are a bit like time travel - back to an era when Mallorca was not a place of longing for millions, but a quiet spot in the Mediterranean. The documentary "Longing for Mallorca - How it all began"which was published on Thursday, November 21, at 8:15 p.m. on Arte takes us right there. To the 1950s, when tourism slowly reached the island and today's vacation paradise was still a long way off.
When traveling was still a hassle
Just imagine: Back then, a vacation meant packing suitcases into a car, taking a ferry to the island - for hours, often in swell - and finally spending a few days or weeks in a simple guest house. Air travel? Affordable for very few. In the 1950s, Mallorca was what you would call "untouched" today: tranquil villages, empty beaches and a backdrop that belonged to locals rather than tourists.
But then came the wave: package tours, large airplanes, affordable prices. And with them a whole new kind of vacation. The 1960s brought the first big rush, the building boom began and mass tourism was born. As the documentary shows, this was also a time of improvisation for many hoteliers and restaurateurs. After all, the sun-seekers had to be accommodated and catered for somehow.
Nostalgia and reflection
The film, staged by director Marvin Entholtbrings this period back to life with archive material and amateur recordings. The interviews with contemporary witnesses such as Maria Piñaone of Mallorca's first female hotel managers. They talk about the challenges, but also about the spirit of optimism at that time - and how the island changed radically within just a few decades.
You also learn how Mallorca finally became a hotspot in the 1990s: Celebrities from all over the world set up second homes and the island became the "Eldorado of the jet set", as the program description puts it. However, the visitors' love for the island has long had a dark side: With over 18 million tourists a year, the longing of many is increasingly becoming a burden for the island's inhabitants.
A movie that lingers on
"Sehnsucht Mallorca" is not just a documentary, but also an invitation to reflect on the development of the island. From a charming insider tip to a symbol of mass tourism - and a place that seems to fulfill so many different needs. A bit of nostalgia, a bit of melancholy and certainly plenty of food for thought.
Missed out on charisma? No problem!
If you've already made plans for Thursday evening, the documentary will be available from November 21, 2024 to February 18, 2025 in the Arte media library https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/118239-000-A/sehnsucht-mallorca/available. And for those who prefer to watch television, there are two more opportunities: On November 27 at 09.45 a.m. and on December 7 at 1:40 p.m. the movie will be repeated.
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