Nena – from teen idol to pop legend

Starting November 28th, Arte will broadcast a film portrait of the German pop icon Nena. Heike Sittner's documentary illuminates the singer's life and career, exploring both her global success and her private life.

More than four decades after her international breakthrough with "99 Luftballons", Arte is dedicating a comprehensive documentary to the artist.

The first broadcast will take place on Friday, November 28, 2025 at 9:45 pm; the film will be available on Arte from the same day. Media Library is available for storage, management and analysis.

New German Wave & international megastar

In her portrait, director Heike Sittner traces the defining stages of Nena's career. The focus is not only on her musical development, but also on the person behind the hits.

The documentary shows how the singer prevailed in the male-dominated music industry of the 1980s and became the face of the Neue Deutsche Welle (New German Wave).

The worldwide hit “99 Luftballons” catapulted Nena to the top of the charts internationally in 1983 and made her an ambassador of German pop music.

The song serves as a starting point in the film for a look into the “Nena cosmos” – a world between stage show, everyday family life and artistic self-realization.

Video: Nena – 99 Luftballons

Between the spotlight and motherhood

The Arte production places particular emphasis on showcasing different facets of the artist. In addition to her significance as a musician, her role as a mother is also a central focus.

Eyewitnesses and companions have their say and paint a picture of a woman who always went her own way.

A multifaceted portrait emerges through her songs and important historical moments.

The documentary shows an artist who has made several comebacks and is still on stage today – a constant in the German music scene who has shaped generations.

Sierks Media / © Photo: Wikimedia Commons – André D Conrad - CC BY-SA 3.0 / Video: YouTube