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X Distribution
presents
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An
X Films Creative Pool
Production
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In Co-Production with the
West German Broadcasting Company
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Cooperating with
Film Foundation North-Rhein Westfalia
Film Supporting Institute
Filmboard Berlin Brandenburg
BKM
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Our holiday home, Summer 1978
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Look here. Here into the camera.
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Hands off!
-
Alex, hold on!
- Dad, help me!
-
Slowly, cautiously,
almost gently...
-
the giant colossus...
is placed on the launch site.
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Here on the launch site
the result of the great...
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community work is demonstrated.
If you want an example to emphasize the famous word:
-
everyone supplies quality to everyone...
- There he is!
-
everyone supplies quality to everyone...
- There he is!
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... here it can be seen in perfection.
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I report: I am ready for the flight
with spaceship SOJUS 31...
-
as a member of the international
crew.
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On August 26, 1978,
we had reached international standing.
-
Sigmund Jähn, citizen of the GDR,
was the first German who ever went into space.
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However, on this day our
family went really up in smoke.
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This is your husband's third stay
in a capitalistic country.
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This is your husband's third stay
in a capitalistic country.
-
He stands in for his boss, professor Klinger.
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Do you know of any contacts in the West
your husband might have?. - No.
-
Mrs Kerner, how would you
describe the state of your marriage?
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Has your husband ever talked to you
about escape from the Republic?
-
Mrs Kerner...
Has he talked to you about that?
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Allow me to present the Central Committee
of the communist party...
-
Get lost! Leave me alone!
-
While Sigmund Jähn bravely represented the GDR
in the depths of space,
-
my procreator let a class enemy
in a capitalistic country...
-
screw his brains out.
He never came back.
-
screw his brains out.
He never came back.
-
My mother became so sad,
that she stopped talking.
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She just didn't talk anymore.
Not to us, not to others.
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Mum, please come back.
It's so boring at Mrs. Schäfer's.
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Mum, I love you.
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The Sandman excellently adapted to the
conditions in space.
-
But the biggest surprise was that he
became very well acquainted...
-
...with Mascha.
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We even had a cosmic
marriage on board.
-
We even had a cosmic
marriage on board.
-
In a few minutes, the sandman
and Mascha will come back to Earth.
-
I hope it was relayed,
so that you could see it clearly.
-
Mother came back after 8 weeks.
It was as if she had been transformed.
-
Surprise!
- My sweeties!
-
My Alex. My little cosmonaut.
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(Caption) Pioneer Park, Spring 1979
- We never talked about father again.
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(Caption) Pioneer Park, Spring 1979
- We never talked about father again.
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From this moment on, my mother got married
to our socialist Fatherland.
-
Our home...
-
is not only
the towns and villages...
-
As this relation was not a sexual one,
there was a lot of vigour and energy left...
-
for us kids
and the socialist daily routine.
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... is the grass on the sward,
the corn on the field and the birds...
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in the air and the animals on the ground...
-
in the air and the animals on the ground...
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My mother became promoter of
the progress of society.
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A passionate activist for the
simple needs of the people
-
and against the small
injustices of life. - Input.
-
and against the small
injustices of life. - Input.
-
and against the small
injustices of life. - Input.
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Concerning: Gaudily colourful...
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maternity dresses. Full-stop.
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And now a report on the solemn honouring...
- This is it!
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Blue- and and white-collar workers,
scientists and joint farmers,
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Blue- and and white-collar workers,
scientists and joint farmers,
-
artists and veteran workers
came to Berlin today,
-
to receive the highest honourings
of our country in the Council of State.
-
to receive the highest honourings
of our country.
-
That's you, Mum!
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... and recognition of outstanding
merits during the building up...
-
and development
of the socialist social order.
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On the eve of the
national holiday...
-
the CC of the SUG
traditionally rewards men and women of merit.
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After a long, untiring training
it was time. I, Alex Kerner,
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was the second German to go to space.
Deeper and further than any man before.
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Rocket launched!
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I imaged how I would explore the riddles of the cosmos
for the good of humanity,
-
how I would look down to our planet
and how I would proudly wave to my mother.
-
how I would look down to our planet
and how I would proudly wave to my mother.
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Rocket launched!
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10 years later - October 7, 1989.
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Test, one, two...
-
The GDR had its 40th anniversary.
-
I had a day off with the
PGH TV workshop "Adolf Hennecke"...
-
and felt as if I was on the climax of
my male personal magnetism.
-
and felt as if I was on the climax of
my male personal magnetism.
-
Left, two, three!
-
Time smelt of change,
while an oversized rifle association...
-
had its last performance
in front of our house.
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Alex!
-
What?
-
Alex, there's a lass out there.
Should I send her away?
-
Alex, there's a lass out there.
Should I send her away?
-
Who is she?
- No idea.
-
But she makes a good impression.
-
Have you slept in your clothes again?
-
Where's the visitor?
-
The visitor's name is Paula...
and it's a date, as agreed. Here you are.
-
Oh no!
- Oh yes, little brother.
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Can't your ex-boyfriend take care of her?
- He's on standby duty today.
-
We stopped at: ...but a woman
of a certain age...
-
We stopped at: ...but a woman
of a certain age...
-
... can't and won't wear the panties,
that are offered.
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Fullstop. Even in the GDR, there
are not only young princesses on ice and...
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exquisitly slim comrades. Full-stop.
- That's good.
-
You're not downstairs? It's already started.
- Impossible to overhear!
-
You're not downstairs? It's already started.
- Impossible to overhear!
-
Well hurry up then. It could be the last time
with these members.
-
Where's Paula?
- Yeah, where is she? Sleeping again?
-
Maybe I'll see your
mother on TV. - In the palace?
-
Maybe I'll see your
mother on TV. - In the palace?
-
You'll have to look for her with a magnifying glass.
-
I don't really know if I'll go there.
All of the party's bigwigs are there.
-
I don't know anyone. Although... I'd like
to see Gorbatschow at close range this once.
-
There they are celebrating themselves,
all the old bastards.
-
Well you don't have to watch.
- Mum, don't you notice what's happening there?
-
And you, what do you want? Do a bunk?
-
Nothing will change if
they all go away. Let's go on.
-
It cannot be possible,
that the stouter...
-
...workers and farmer's wifes...
are punished by the fashion combinates...
-
...after the 40th year of the existence
of our Republic!
-
With socalist salutations...
-
Hanna Schäfer.
-
In the evening of October 7, 1989
several hundred people united...
-
for an evening walk,
to promote...
-
the idea of walking without borders.
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Freedom of the press! Freedom of the press!
-
Cough! Cough hard!
-
Everything alright?
-
You alright?
- Thank you!
-
There're even more Greens.
-
Alright already!
-
Form a chain!
-
No violence! No violence!
-
You might make it
if you take the subway.
-
What's your name?
-
La...
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Stop it!
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Watch out!
-
That's my mum lying there!
- Stand still! - My mum's lying there!
-
Let me go, you asshole!
That's my mu......
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Alexander Kerner?
- Yes?
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Your mother.
-
What about mother?
-
What is it?
-
Mum had a heart attack.
-
Unfortunately, the resuscitation attempts were carried out
very late. Your mother's in a coma.
-
When can we talk to her?
- Alex, Mum's in a coma!
-
Mr. Kerner, we don't know yet,
whether or not your mother will ever wake up again.
-
Can you hear me, Mum?
-
You've got to wake up!
-
But mother was fast asleep.
In her deep, neverending sleep...
-
she circled like a satellite
around the events happening...
-
on our little planet
in our even smaller Republic.
-
The 9th Convention agreed to Honecker's request,
to relieve him of his duties...
-
because of health problems
and thanked him for his political life's work.
-
Congratulations!
-
Her sleep obscured the retirement of
the esteemed comrade Erich Honecker,
-
Her sleep obscured the retirement of
the esteemed comrade Erich Honecker,
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General Secretary of the CC of the SUG
and Chairman of the GDR's council of state.
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(Reporter) Berlin.
This evening the Wall fell.
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(German National Anthem) Unity and Justice
and Liberty...
-
(German National Anthem) Unity and Justice
and Liberty...
-
Mother slept through a classical concert
at the City Hall of Schöneberg.
-
And the start of a gigantic and
unique waste collection.
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And the start of a gigantic and
unique waste collection.
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Open the gateway!
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Stasi begone! Stasi begone!
-
Mother kept on sleeping. Deeply and firmly.
-
She missed my
first trip into the West,
-
and how some comrades conscientiously
protected us workers and peasants.
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and how some comrades conscientiously
protected us workers and peasants.
-
Of course she also missed my
first cultural discoveries
-
in a new country.
-
Excuse me, excuse me.
-
Excuse me, excuse me.
-
Mothers deep sleep didn't allow her
to participate in the first free polling.
-
Helmut! Helmut! Helmut!
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She missed how Ariane gave up her study
of economic theory...
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Enjoy your meal and thank you for choosing Burger King.
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... and made her first practical experience
with the circulation of money.
-
The sleep saved her the moving-in of Ariane's new boyfriend.
Rainer, class enemy and barbecue man.
-
The furniture from the bedroom
is going to the basement.
-
The furniture from the bedroom
is going to the basement.
-
She missed the increasing Westernization of
our 79-square-metre apartment...
-
The old rubbish with the red dot
is going to the bulk waste, okay?
-
The old rubbish with the red dot
is going to the bulk waste, okay?
-
... and Rainer's enthusiasm for the
oriental customs and way of life.
-
The big hormanal ecstasy
that I experienced watching
-
a few beautiful legs,
didn't reach into her night.
-
Shit!
-
What're you doing there?
- I... the infusion...
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And not even the first day of Nurse Lara
exchange angel from the sovjet union,
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penetrated her black dreams.
-
There you are again.
- Hello.
-
I was worried about you.
- They've put me in clink.
-
Mother overslept the triumph of
the capitalism. - Relief!
-
And the coordination of
my hospital visits.
-
Do you know what I noticed?
When she's in a good mood,
-
she's carrying her hair loosely.
When she's in a bad mood, she puts them up.
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And during the doctor's round,
she chews on her fingernails.
-
Don't you think
she's got a beautiful smile?
-
Her sleep ignored,
how heroes of work became unemployed.
-
Her sleep ignored,
how heroes of work became unemployed.
-
The PGH TV workshop "Adolf Hennecke"
was winded up.
-
I was the last one
and I switched off the light.
-
Then there was the reprise. As a member of the
quick-witted East-West-Team, I applied the reunification very early.
-
Satellite dishes blossomed
in our landscape.
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Denis Domaschke?
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Domaschke. Denis Domaschke.
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Alexander Kerner?
- Here.
-
Well, come on. Don't be shy.
-
Well, come on. Don't be shy.
-
Hi.
-
And get along, guys.
-
Hi.
- Hello.
-
Knut Vogel?
-
Hello, Mum. Doctor Wagner said
we should talk to you.
-
And if I can't be there in person,
I thought it might work like this too.
-
It's 5 o' clock now.
Most of the doctors are gone
-
and you've finally got some peace.
Nurse Lara, who's washed you,
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should be gone too. If you could see her
you'd surely wake up.
-
Ariane sends you her regards,
she thinks the idea with the tape is nonsense. Well, you know her.
-
She's just in the room taking care of Paula who's
getting her teeths and is screaming all the time.
-
Mother overslept my
unstoppable progress with Lara.
-
Our first romantic rendez-vous followed
4 early shifts and 35 late shifts.
-
It's loud here!
-
Our Russian teacher came from Minsk
and weighed a ton.
-
And that's all you know
about Russian women?
-
The wind of change blew
into the ruins of our Republic.
-
Summer came and Berlin was
the most beautiful place on Earth.
-
We felt like
being in the center of the world.
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Where finally something moved.
And we moved with it.
-
It's too bad she doesn't
realize any of this.
-
Well, maybe it's better that way.
Everything she believed in
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has dissolved into air in a few months.
Just like that.
-
And your dad?
- He was a Doctor.
-
He escaped into the West.
We haven't heard anything from him again.
-
The future was in our hands,
uncertain and promising.
-
Good afternoon. We're X TV and we just wanted to...
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Hello, do you need a satellite dish?
-
No money?
-
Good afternoon!
-
Do you like football? Then we've got something for you.
-
Good afternoon. We're X TV and...
-
We're X TV!
Are you interested in a satellite dish?
-
This is Vietnam 1, there's Vietnam 2
and back there's the Viatnamese sport channel.
-
Alright!
-
To the World Cup!
- To the future! - To us!
-
Comrade!
-
At the moment this is just running
on the side.
-
And later...
I'll do real feature films.
-
Same label of course.
-
Watch this, I'll just show you something.
-
Watch this, I'll just show you something.
-
That's what I'm working on at the moment. Watch this!
-
Don't look yet.
Don't look yet, wait...
-
And... now!
-
Recognized it?
-
Now!
-
That's the famous cut from 2001,
the one with the bone.
-
The cake represents the spaceship.
-
Got it now? Yes?
- Ingenious.
-
Ingenious.
-
Alright, everybody laugh.
-
Alright, everybody laugh.
-
At the beginning of June 1990, the borders
of our GDR were worthless.
-
Mother kept on sleeping. But I
remembered the old words of the comrades:
-
"We solve problems by making headway"
and I acted.
-
Mum?
-
Mum!
-
Can you hear me?
-
Your mother's awakening is a wonder.
But she might not be the same person she used to be.
-
What do you mean?
-
There have been some cases in which
the patients didn't recognize their own children: amnesia.
-
Loss of memory.
-
Sorry.
-
Mental confusion. Blending of
long and short-term memory...
-
Taste and smell irritations,
delayed perception. We don't know,
-
how badly the brain was damaged.
There are a lot of uncertain possibilities.
-
I'm sorry to have to say this,
but mother is still in great danger.
-
I'm afraid I can't give you much hope
that she'll survive the next few weeks.
-
Well...
-
Can we take...
her home with us?
-
Out of the question.
She is in very good hands here.
-
It's also simpler for you.
She can't take another heart attack.
-
You have to keep your mother
away from any excitement, even any danger of excitement.
-
And I mean
any form of excitement, Mr. Kerner!
-
Any excitement.
-
It's life-threatening.
-
And this?
-
And this?
-
Isn't this a reason to get upset?
-
My mother doesn't know anything about the Fall of the Wall.
She'll find out about that here immediately.
-
Your granddaughter.
-
Your granddaughter.
-
Mummy.
-
What's happened?
- You collapsed.
-
What's happened?
- You collapsed.
-
8 months ago.
-
8... months ago?
-
I can't... remember.
-
That's normal. It will come back to you.
You just have to have patience.
-
And what... what happened?
-
Well, that was...
- It was October.
-
I think you wanted to go shopping.
-
And... there was a big queue in
front of the store. And it was so hot,
-
you just collapsed.
- In October?
-
It was a really hot October.
Back then.
-
Yes.
-
And then?
-
You were in a coma, Mum.
-
I want to go home.
-
That I promise you.
-
We want to celebrate your birthday.
As every year.
-
We want to celebrate your birthday.
As every year.
-
Alex, that's complete madness.
- We don't leave her alone, we promised her.
-
Mum is fatally ill.
It's better for her here. They've got the equipment.
-
Just this once, be realistic.
- No, you be realistic.
-
What happens when she doesn't have a single room anymore?
Or when someone lets the cat out of the bag?
-
She'll hear what is happening outside in here.
She won't take it.
-
Alright, all of this rubbish has to come out.
-
Are mum's curtains still in the basement
- You can't be serious.
-
They're rawlplugged.
-
Oh great!
- Guess it'll have to be re-plastered.
-
Oh great!
- Guess it'll have to be re-plastered.
-
Can you please tell me what he's doing?
- What do you think I'm doing?
-
What should I think? - What should he think?
- That you have to make way.
-
Or should we put Mum in the basement?
- Excuse me, I've paying the rent for this flat for 5 months!
-
Or should we put Mum in the basement?
- Excuse me, I've paying the rent for this flat for 5 months!
-
Generous of you, Rainer! - For the whole apartment!
47,80 German Mark! In the West
that's not even enough for a telephone bill!
-
And in the East you have to wait 10 years to get a telephone connection!
- Can't you just...?
-
Mum has to find the room
in the same condition she left it in. The doctor said
-
she has to stay in bad okay?
So it's only about this one room.
-
And when she's better, we'll see what we'll do.
- You didn't get what the doctor said. Mum will probably...
-
That's what you said 3 months ago,
when you wanted to switch off the machines.
-
That was a different situation, you can't compare this!
- What do you want to tell her then, Ariane?
-
That you've given up your studies,
because you're selling Hamburgers now?
-
"Enjoy your meal and thank you for choosing Burger King."
-
8th floor?.
- Yeah.
-
Elevator, hm?
- Broken. - Shit.
-
You can say that again.
-
My life changed drastically.
-
My life changed drastically.
-
And the day we wanted to take mum home
was ever drawing nearer,
-
relentlessly like a big Russian tank.
-
What're you doing sniffling in my cupboard?
- Not in your cupboard. That's from the old clothes collection.
-
What're you doing sniffling in my cupboard?
- Not in your cupboard. That's from the old clothes collection.
-
And how do you look?
It would be nice if you would think a little for a change.
-
Look at this. This garbage is what we used to wear.
-
Sign here.
-
The physiotherapist is coming
3 times a week. Have you got any more questions?
-
Your mother is going at her own responsibility.
You know how I think about this.
-
Where is the previous Doctor, by the way?
-
Doctor Wagner, he went to Düsseldorf.
- I understand. And you?
-
When do you run away?
And you want to lecture me about responsibility.
-
Please lie down a second.
-
Why?
- Please. Just lie down.
-
If there's another cardiac arrest:
short, strong thumps on the chest.
-
Careful! She mustn't wake up.
- Alright, boss!
-
Ariane and I'll set up a schedule.
And there's the physiotherapest.
-
There's always someone with her. It'll work.
-
Most GDR citizens already exchanged
their savings cashlessly.
-
There are only 2 weeks left.
You should hurry. Because as Gorbatschow once said:
-
He who is late...
- Excuse me?.
-
will be punished all his life. - I can't hear it anymore.
- Excuse me!
-
Could you tune down the radio please?
My mother needs rest.
-
Alright, boss.
-
Don't you want to introduce us?
- Oh yes, of course. This is Lara.
-
Hello, Lara.
-
Could you let me past, please?
-
Hello, Christiane!
-
Alex! What is it?
-
Hello? Alex!
-
Nothing's changed in here.
-
What should have changed?
-
Oh, if you're bored,
you can listen to cassettes.
-
I'm afraid the radio receiver is broken.
-
But I'll repair that.
- Alex?
-
It's good to know
you're not alone.
-
When your father...
-
When he was suddenly gone...
-
I didn't think I'd make it.
-
I never told you that...
-
I thought about laying hands upon myself.
-
But you visited every day.
-
And you talked about school and Sigmund Jähn.
-
You heard that?
-
I'm sorry to cause you so much work.
-
I can't even use the toilet by myself.
- Mum.
-
That doesn't matter.
-
The important thing is for you to get well.
-
I'll try hard.
-
You have to rest now.
-
I'll just go to the shop,
but Ariane is still there.
-
Oh, Alex...?
-
I'm craving for Spreewood gherkins.
Can you fetch me some?
-
No problem, Mum.
-
That's what I thought.
-
At the end of June 1990 the shops of
our socialist Fatherland were emptied.
-
Real money was coming in from the country
behind the Wall.
-
While most citizens queued in long lines in front of the
Republic banks with their usual patience...
-
we were still frantically looking for mother's bankbook.
-
we were still frantically looking for mother's bankbook.
-
Yearned for by everyone, the German Mark flooded
our little community.
-
Halleluja, Halleluja...
-
Halleluja, German Mark!
-
(Song) Such a day, so wonderful...
-
And the money was exchanged 2 to 1.
Germany won 1:0!
-
Unstoppable shot!
Germany is one-nil up by Lothar Matthäus!
-
Mocca Fix? - Haven't got that anymore.
Filinchen Crispbread? - Not for sale anymore.
-
Spreewood gherkins?
- Goodness, where do you live, boy?
-
We've got the German Mark now. And there you come
asking for Mocca Fix and Filinchen?
-
Over night, our grey store was transformed
into a colourful product paradise.
-
Over night, our store was transformed
into a colourful product paradise.
-
And I became the king as a customer.
-
They're from the Netherlands.
-
Good afternoon, Mr. Ganske.
-
That's how far they've driven us already...
that we have to go fishing in the garbage.
-
Mister Ganske,
have you still got Spreewood gherkins?
-
What?
- Spreewood gherkins!
-
I'm sorry, young man.
I'm unemployed myself.
-
An empty glass would do, too.
-
I wanted to introduce Rainer to Mum today.
-
Later.
We don't want to demand to much of her.
-
Perhaps you're right.
-
Yes.
-
I'm afraid there was a supply shortage
for Spreewood gherkins.
-
It's alright. These are fine too.
-
Listen, you really don't have to take
care of me all the time.
-
It's awkward for me.
- Mum.
-
No, really. Maybe...
-
... you could put the TV next to the bed.
Then I'll manage by my own.
-
Watching TV still is too tiring for you.
- But why? Why shouldn't I...
-
be able to watch TV?
- We'll ask the Doctor.
-
Mum, we have to talk to you about something.
-
It's like this...
-
We wanted to ask you if...
-
We need your authorization to access your bank account.
- What is it?
-
Do you need money?
- No. No.
-
It's just that you can't go walk
the bank by yourself anymore.
-
And it would simply be better if...
-
you sign this.
-
Yes, and...
-
maybe now would be best.
-
But there's no hurry is there?
-
You're keeping something from me?
Has something happened? Are you in debt?
-
Please trust us, it's important!
-
Before I let you have all my money,
I have got a right to know what it's for don't I?
-
All right.
-
It was supposed to be
a surprise but...
-
We received a notification.
-
From Zwickau.
We can fetch our "Trabant" (GDR car).
-
From Zwickau.
We can fetch our "Trabant" (GDR car).
-
After only 3 years?
-
And for that we need the money
that you've saved.
-
You don't think...
I got my money at the bank?
-
I've hidden it.
-
And where?
- Where?
-
I forgot.
-
I've totally forgotten, it's all gone.
- Mum, just think.
-
Father is coming home late today,
don't you think?
-
Mum...
-
That's alright.
Soon you'll be better again.
-
We'll celebrate your birthday.
As every year.
-
With the house community.
We have always celebrated it.
-
This is the First German Television
with the news.
-
Comrade Ganske watches West-TV?
-
Comrade Ganske fell in love.
During a vacation in Hungary.
-
With a pensioner from... Munich.
-
Since then his love for the party has suffered.
-
Oh.
- Well...
-
Are you finished?
-
I'm sorry I'm late again.
- There it is. Even with a balcony.
-
Since some citizens didn't even return from their
vacation in Hungary,
-
Since some citizens didn't even return from their
vacation in Hungary,
-
the apartment market in the Capital eased considerably.
-
There were deserted apartments everywhere,
which we only had to enter.
-
The guy moved to the West last year.
A colleague gave me the hint.
-
The guy moved to the West last year.
A colleague gave me the hint.
-
Get a load of that! - Get a load of that
- It's working! - Tempo-beans!
-
Globus green peas!
That can't be true.
-
Mocca Fix Gold!
I've been looking for that all the time!
-
Can I have that?
-
I have to go.
-
Sleep on...
-
Morning, Mum.
-
Morning, Alex.
-
Are you in a hurry?
- I have to go to work.
-
Alex, please remember the TV.
- Let's talk about that later.
-
Alex, please remember the TV.
- Let's talk about that later.
-
Oh and about my birthday.
Invite Klapprath and perhaps a few pupils.
-
As if the fucking gherkins weren't enough trouble already.
Now she wants to watch TV.
-
What should I do?
- Yeah, Houston. We got a problem.
-
Yeah, and now? - I thought you might have an idea.
No, I meant the picture.
-
Oh.
-
Now?
- Nope.
-
It didn't work very long.
- Semi-finale! I'll just go over to the Pollnicks.
-
Then go already.
-
Excuse me.
Are those gherkins from the Spreewood?
-
Nope, from the Netherlands.
-
Just show her something old.
- What do you mean?
-
Old East-TV stuff on video tape.
-
News from last year? She'll notice for sure.
-
Ah, I don't think so. It was always the same rubbish.
- Where should I get the videos from?
-
I haven't even got a recorder.
- Bad enough.
-
What's the score?
-
What's the score?
-
Beckenbauer, Rudi Völler...
You don't want to see it...
-
Germany made it into the finale!
-
While the world time clock at the Alexander Square
rushed towards mother's birthday,
-
a tiny round ball united the social development...
-
of the split nation and let things, that belonged
together, grow together.
-
I slaved away like a Hero of Labour to resurrect
the GDR in every detail
-
in mother's room until this day.
-
Have the cross-word puzzles already been solved?
- Untouched like a virgin.
-
Great. I'll take them all.
-
Oh and these ones too.
-
They laid my daughter off too.
All of a sudden it was: "Thank you, and goodbye."
-
And for that we worked for 40 years, oh leave me alone......
They'll even drop the TV ballet.
-
Don't you do anything apart from watching TV?
-
Don't you do anything apart from watching TV?
-
To get back to my mother. The problem is that
-
she doesn't know about the Fall of the Wall
- Enviable.
-
And it's her birthday next week.
She would really be happy about a visit.
-
Have you really got it now?
I don't want to hear one false word.
-
And our 20 Marks?
- The work comes first.
-
The first guests were invited.
Others still had to be persuaded.
-
A lot of people of the Polytechnical Secondary School
"Werner Seelenbinder"...
-
had withdrawn to their private lives.
Including Doctor Klapprath.
-
Once headmaster and outstanding
teacher of the People.
-
Once headmaster and outstanding
teacher of the People.
-
We were all valuable people.
-
Isn't that right, Alex?
-
I admired your mother.
She was an outstanding educator.
-
I admired your mother.
She was an outstanding educator.
-
And an excellent human being.
-
That's why she was neutralized.
-
Some comrades in the collective
thought her to be too...
-
idealistic.
-
Ever since your father...
-
Her idealism was well-respected, but...
-
in the daily school routine, it...
can become problematic sometimes.
-
And then you simply gave her the boot.
-
You still owe her something.
- Yes.
-
You're a Dispatcher. Can you remember that?
- Dispatcher? In the East?
-
Yes, of course in the East. You organize the
purchasing of a Mitropa-Restaurant.
-
Write this down:
School Education EOS Juri Gagarin.
-
Write this down:
School Education EOS Juri Gagarin.
-
And you were Group Council Chairman with
the Pioneers. - Group Council... what?
-
Group Council Chairman.
- That's enough.
-
I won't use those plastic diapers anymore.
That's going too far.
-
Got it?
Yes, Group Council Chairman.
-
Here you are, 30 broadcasts of "Current Camera",
10 broadcasts of "Black Channel"...
-
6 broadcasts "Colourful Boiler" and 4 broadcasts of
"A Day in the West". It's all copied.
-
Sponsored by the country's picture library
and a very charming Denis.
-
I hope that'll work.
-
What are you doing crawling on the ground?
- That's the cable for the antenna so you can watch TV?
-
We've got the World Cup. Truly a gift.
There is no better time to
-
supply satellite dishes to the East.
-
Okay? Got it? We come to phase 3...
-
What was that?
- No idea. Interferences, happens from time to time.
-
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome
to the "Current Camera".
-
Hard provocation against the border.
Protests in the Chancellor's office in the FRG (West Germany).
-
Chip-Power GDR.
The foreign press acknowledges achievements...
-
Things are running outside
and I feel so useless in here.
-
Can't you put a note on the house community's
pin board?
-
Whoever's got any problems can come to me.
I can write inputs from bed.
-
I don't know.
You shouldn't exert yourself.
-
Morning, Alex. Is it time already?
-
You want a swig? You want a swig?
- Oh holy shit!
-
Shit. Shit, yes? Shit!
-
Goodness, goddamn shit!
-
I feel sick.
-
While many loudly thought of themself
being the World Cup holders of tomorrow,
-
While many loudly thought of themself
being the World Cup holders of tomorrow,
-
sounds from the past
came out of mother's bedroom.
-
Our home
is not only the towns...
-
and villages...
-
Our home is also
all the trees in the forest...
-
Our home...
-
is the grass on the sward,
the corn on the field...
-
and the birds...
-
in the air and the animals on the ground...
-
and the fishes in the river are the home...
-
And we love the...
-
That was wonderful. Thank you. Thank you, children.
-
You learned that from me, didn't you?
-
Yes.
-
Dear Christiane!
-
We are here... today... here,
-
because it's your birthday.
And... I would like to wish...
-
you all the best
in the name of the party direction.
-
And...
-
the basket.
-
For you.
-
That's kind of you. Thank you.
-
Klapprath.
-
Rosenthaler Kadarka... Mocca Fix Gold...
-
Globus green peas.
-
The colleagues and... the comrades...
-
of the POS "Werner Seelenbinder"... they...
-
would like to thank you in particular
for all the years,
-
Christiane, that you... were...
-
a... good colleague...
-
and... a dear comrade...
-
uhm...
-
And anyway, I wish you all the best
for your birthday and remain the same person you are...
-
Christiane.
-
Dear comrade Kerner...
-
All the best...
-
and... good health...
-
and that everything will be
as it used to be again.
-
Lara, come here.
-
This is Lara.
-
An exchange student from the Soviet Union.
-
Her dad is a teacher for the deaf and dumb.
-
Don't marry him too early.
- Mum.
-
Even though the thing with the flat
will work out earlier then.
-
My Alex can be
a real block-head sometimes.
-
And Rainer...
-
that's my Ariane's new boyfriend.
-
He... he is a...
-
Dispatcher.
- Right, I'm a Dispatcher.
-
I used to be with them myself...
All the best from the heart... Pioneers!
-
I used to be with the
Free German Pioneers...
-
Thank you, Rainer.
-
As a Group... um...
-
Cha...
-
Group Chairman... back then...
- Thank you!
-
Be ready, be ready!
- Thank you, Rainer!
-
Yes, Mum. Another year is over.
What's changed?
-
Not much really.
Paula got her teeth and a new dad.
-
And me... yes.
-
Unfortunately, we cannot go over to
the Café Moskow to drink to your health,
-
but we're all together.
And that's the most important thing.
-
We didn't always make it easy for you,
but you were always there for us.
-
And, by any rate, I can't think of
a better family than ours.
-
And that's what I wanted to thank you for.
Mum, you're the best mother in the world.
-
Alex?
- And we all love you.
-
Alex?.
- What's the matter?
-
What's that?
-
That's...
- Yes, what's the meaning of that?
-
I don't know what the comrades are doing there again...
A fata morgana.
-
That's from the West.
- It's a mirage.
-
It will have been approved somehow.
- Please calm down, Mum!
-
There's an explanation for everything. Right...
-
Boys, please sing something, will you?
-
Lara! Wait a moment, I... Lara?.
-
"Build up, build up".
-
What's the matter all of a sudden?
-
Build up.
For a better future...
-
we build up our home...
-
I'm sorry for your mother.
What you're doing is too scary for me.
-
And what is this nonsense
about my father being a teacher for the deaf and dumb.
-
He was a simple cook, you know that.
- But she rejoiced in that.
-
What should I've told her?
That he's dead? In her state?
-
You mean to say, when you're lying already,
it doesn't make any difference anyway.
-
Cheers for her,
cheers for her...
-
Lara!
-
Cheers for her,
cheers for her...
-
three cheers for her!
-
Cheers, cheers, cheers!
-
Just a little further away.
-
Just a little further away.
-
Just a little more..
-
Watch out, will you? We're filming here!
- Can I see your authorization?
-
Didn't he inform you?
- Me? Who?
-
Oh, what was his name?
- Something with "M".
-
I'll just go and ask around.
Until then, you don't film anything!
-
Got the logo? - Yes.
Sharpness on me?- Yes.
-
We're waiting for the evening sun.
- Don't overdo it, the guy will be back soon.
-
Just you wait.
With the evening sun it'll look brill.
-
When I stared at the clouds on that day,
I realized that the truth
-
was just a doubtful matter,
that I could adapt to mother's
-
familiar surroundings.
-
familiar surroundings.
-
I only had to study the language
of "Current Camera"...
-
and spur on Denis' ambition
as a film director.
-
Today Günther Mittag, secretary for Economy
in the CC of the SUD,
-
visited the Coca Cola group in West Berlin.
The reason for the comrade's visit are...
-
details of the completed
trade agreement between Coca Cola...
-
and the VEB Drink Collective Combine Leipzig.
-
Security officers of West Berlin hinder
the work of the GDR television.
-
Surely, the capitalistic press
censors find the loss the mighty
-
Coca Cola group has suffered against the
VEB Drink Collective Combine Leipzig...
-
in the patent procedure too embarrassing...
Please let the GDR television
-
work undisturbed!
- That's it, I'm calling the police!
-
A testimonial of international
scientists now finally confirmed
-
to the Collective Combine,
that the original Coca Cola flavour
-
was developed in the 50s
in laboratories of the GDR. Back to the studio.
-
Coca Cola is a socialist drink?
-
I thought, Cola existed before the war.
-
Don't you understand, Mum?
The West ripped us off all these years!
-
Until the end of August
593 deaths by drugs were registered.
-
60% more than in the year before.
- Now I remember!
-
What?
- Where I hid the money.
-
In the living room. In the small chest of drawers.
-
In the left drawer
under the wax paper.
-
The old rubbish with the red dot
is going to the bulk waste.
-
How could I forget?
-
Hey, here I am!
- Oh, hello!
-
And?
-
Has she swallowed it?
- Yes, of course. - Really?
-
Has she really swallowed it?
- I'm telling you.
-
They've driven us this far!
- Good evening, Mister Ganske.
-
They betrayed us and sold us out!
-
The lack of sharpness didn't irritate her?
- No.
-
And for that we worked 40 years...
- We could rebuild a studio.
-
We would have different possibilites
with a blue box.
-
What... what are you doing there?
-
And? What should we do with it?
- Exchange it, of course.
-
I'm sorry, but the deadline expired
2 days ago.
-
I'm sorry, but the deadline expired
2 days ago.
-
But it's a special case.
- We've only just found it today.
-
It's even okay for us,
if you exchange 1 to 4 or 1 to 5...
-
I'm afraid there is no prolongation.
And we wouldn't have exchanged cash anyway.
-
That can't be!
- It has to be possible!
-
I'm sure you heard me. Time's up!
- Your time is up soon, you bastard!
-
These are 30,000 East Marks! That was our money,
for 40 damned years!
-
Now you Western fuck want to tell me,
this isn't worth anything?
-
Please leave our premises now.
-
Keep your hands off! And what are you all gawking at?
-
It used to be your money, too!
-
Keep your hands off! You assholes!
-
Are you going mad or what?
-
I felt like a Commander
of a submarine in the Northsea-Fleet,
-
whose battle-hardened steel skin
had sprung a leak.
-
Everytime I closed a leak,
another one opened.
-
Ariane denied being my brother in arms,
the class enemy raised his Cola-flag
-
and a fresh wind from the West
blew mother's East money around my ears.
-
What're you laughing about?
- Yell.
-
Why?
- You have to vent some air.
-
Open up your valves. Just yell!
-
In Summer 1990, the German
national team exceeded the plan...
-
and became World Cup holder.
-
And mother kept on getting better.
-
The pullover marked "Size 48" has the
width of a "Size 54"
-
The pullover marked "Size 48" has the
width of a "Size 54"
-
and the length of a "Size 38". Full-stop.
-
I don't know how the employees
of Milena come to these measurements.
-
In the Capital there are no people who
are so small and square. Full-stop.
-
Christiane, that's good.
-
If it's our fault...
If it's... our fault...
-
that we cannot accommodate the Central Plan
with our sizes, comma...
-
we would like to apologize for that. Full stop.
-
In this case...
we shall endeavour to become, comma...
-
in the future, smaller and
squarer. Full stop.
-
With socialist salutations.
-
Hanna Schäfer.
-
Hello, Mrs. Schäfer.
-
Oh Alex. It's so nice to talk to your mother.
It feels just like living in the past.
-
A little changes here and there
and I'll send it to the OTTO mail-order company.
-
Our home is also
all the trees in the forest...
-
Our home is also
all the trees in the forest...
-
Our home...
-
I've got some nice visitors.
That's Frank and Christian...
-
of my former class.
- Hello.
-
Hello.
Mrs. Kerner has to rest now, alright?
-
Bye.
- Alex, why?
-
Now scram!
- And the 20 Marks? - What 20 Marks?
-
Sascha said,
we'd get 20 Marks for that!
-
Hello, Mr. Mehlert. - Hello, Alex.
Problems with the toaster?
-
My mother will be happy,
just go ahead. And you get out of here!
-
And tell your mates, I don't want to see a Pioneer here ever again. - Alright, boss.
-
Have you gone nuts?
-
You can't just let the
boys in here!
-
But why? She was pleased, wasn't she?
-
You can't do anything right with you Easties!
Having something to complain about is what matters to you most!
-
You're just like your mother
and her stupid GDR-inputs.
-
My mother doesn't grumble!
She's trying to change
-
the conditions of the society step by
step through constructive criticism. - Sure.
-
And you were never interested in that!
- Nope.
-
Haven't you noticed?
We're in the socialist veteran's club.
-
Good evening.
Why don't you take admission fees?
-
Yeah, let's charge admission fees!
-
You be quiet.
He's bought a Trabbi (GDR car). - Really?
-
An estate car.
-
That can't be happening. Paula will get a defect,
if this goes on much longer. - Oh come on!
-
20 years in the GDR didn't harm
our health, did they?
-
I've really got my doubts about you.
-
Shit. Shit!
-
Well done. Get a cloth.
-
What is it? Nosebleeds again.
-
I know it's a little stressful at the moment
I'd also prefer,
-
if we didn't have to...
- I saw dad... earlier.
-
Where?.
- At work.
-
I recognized his voice immediately.
-
What did he say?
-
3 cheeseburgers and
2 portions of chips with mayonnaise, please.
-
3 cheeseburgers and
2 portions of chips with mayonnaise, please.
-
Um, 3 cheeseburgers and
2 portions of chips with mayonnaise!
-
And... what does he look like?
-
He drives a Volvo estate car and
got glasses with a golden rim.
-
What did you tell him?
-
Enjoy your meal and thank you
for choosing Burger King.
-
Enjoy your meal and thank you
for choosing Burger King.
-
My father lived somewhere in this City.
I saw his image in my mind.
-
A fat guy who stuffed himself with cheeseburgers
and chips all day.
-
He lived in his world and I lived in mine.
-
He didn't have anything to do with me
and I didn't have anything to do with him.
-
Hold still or it won't work.
-
Will it take much longer?
-
'cause I have to be home
in 2 hours at the latest.
-
You always have to be somewhere in 2 hours.
It's getting boring.
-
Oh great. I got a sick mother,
a demanding job...
-
and a miffed girlfriend.
- I've got my exams in 2 days.
-
It's second nature to you.
This little bit of putting a plaster on.
-
Then I can stop learning, can't I?
-
I was well-meant.
I believe in you.
-
Lara, stop this shit, please!
-
You have to tell your mother!
- What?
-
You have to tell your mother!
- Not because of me, but because of her!
-
Lara!
- What?
-
Shit! Lara!
-
The life in our little country
became ever faster.
-
Somehow we were all just like atoms
in a big particle accelerator.
-
But away from all the frantic pace of the new time
there was a place of quiet,
-
But away from all the frantic pace of the new time
there was a place of quiet,
-
silence and leisureliness,
where I could finally have a lie-in.
-
Well, Paula. Alex didn't use to be
so tired when he came home from work.
-
Our Paula's learning to walk, Alex!
-
There! There!
-
There!
-
See? I can do it, too.
-
Paula! See?
-
My little Paula. Come to your Granny.
Come, come.
-
Now we'll show Alex,
what we can do, okay?
-
Right...
-
Now let's see just how far
your Granny can walk.
-
Hi! - Hi!
- Good afternoon.
-
Young man,
can I just sit down for a moment here please?
-
Of course.
-
You're not from here, are you?
- Nope, from Wuppertal.
-
From the West?
-
Mum?
-
Mum, what are you doing? Come on.
- Mum!
-
What is it with you?
You can't just get up! Shit.
-
What's actually happening here?
-
Central Committee of the Socialist...
Unity Party of...
-
Germany.
-
Sound is in order.
- Right.
-
Right. I'm ready.
- Camera running.
-
3, 2, 1...
-
Berlin.
-
Still running.
-
Berlin.
-
In a historic special session of the
Central Committee of the Social Unity Party of Germany...
-
the General Secretary of the SUG's CC
and Chairman of the GDR's Council of State,
-
Comrade Erich Honecker, in a great matter of humanitarian politeness,
-
consented to the entering of the country by people from the FRG
who've been requesting exile at the GDR embassies in Prague and Budapest.
-
In this development, Honecker sees...
-
a change in the East-West-relations
and promised every man and woman entering the country...
-
a change in the East-West-relations
and promised every man and woman entering the country...
-
a welcome money of 200 East Marks.
-
Unemployment,
bad future prospects...
-
and the increasing election victories
of the neo-Nazi Republicans...
-
made the unnerved FRG citizens
turn their backs
-
on the capitalism to
try and start...
-
a new life in the country of workers and farmers.
-
Here they park,
the new GDR citizens from the FRG.
-
The entering FRG citizens
were accommodated in the Berlin districts...
-
"Center" und "Friedrich's Grove".
The CC of the SUG...
-
created the campaign "Solidarity West"
because of the historic situation,
-
to make sure all the new citizens
receive proper living space.
-
Somehow I have to admit
that my game started to break free.
-
Maybe the GDR I created for my mother,
was the one I would have liked to have.
-
Citizens who are ready
to accommodate a refugee from the FRG,
-
please report to their
Section Plenipotentiary.
-
How many are there already?
-
I don't know. Ten, twenty thousand?
-
Look at that.
The people want to come into our country.
-
Where are they all going to live?
- They'll find something.
-
You've heard it, they're taking care of it.
-
No, children. This is our responsibility.
We have to help.
-
But how do you think we can?
I mean, there's no room left in here.
-
Our holiday home.
- Our holiday home?
-
We could do it up.
I wanted to get out there anyway.
-
Congratulations. You've done a great job.
Now she wants to go to the holiday home.
-
You'll have to redecorate the entire City.
Why don't you start?
-
But I'm telling you one thing,
I won't take this any further.
-
Ariane and I'll get a bigger apartment.
In 4 weeks we're out of here.
-
What?
-
I'm pregnant.
-
Again?
Can't you be more careful?
-
Don't you think Paula is enough? And Mum?
-
You can't leave me alone!
- Then take some refugees.
-
You're so cynical.
You want her to die, don't you?
-
And so the unity of our little
family was restored.
-
That's your child. And this is the heart.
-
Amazing!
-
An all-German baby was on its way.
And all-German contracts...
-
An all-German baby was on its way.
And all-German contracts...
-
were signed.
In Moskow, they calculated
-
that 2 and 4 equals one and drank
Krim Champagne to all-German brotherhood.
-
In Berlin we took our
first all-German trip.
-
I'm not a little child anymore.
Please take off the cloth.
-
Don't look!
-
Where are we going?
- The surprise stays a surprise!
-
The Trabbi (GDR car) smells so new.
What colour does it have?
-
You've waited 3 years,
another half an hour won't make a difference. - That's right.
-
Mum?
-
Oh, it's beautiful. Sky-blue.
-
Right, and now turn around.
-
Oh my god. The garden.
-
Remember the time Alex
locked himself in the bathroom?
-
We knocked and knocked. Not a sound.
-
I climbed out of a hole
and watched all the excitement from the tree.
-
I climbed out of a hole
and watched all the excitement from the tree.
-
And I laughed so hard,
I wet myself.
-
What's happened in the 8 months
I overslept?
-
Is she asleep? - Yeah.
-
You've become adults,
that must be it.
-
You look more and more like your father.
-
You look more and more like your father.
-
Mum...
-
I've lied to you all this time.
It's all different from what you think.
-
Mum, what are you talking about?
- Your father...
-
Your father didn't stay in the West
because of another woman.
-
I lied.
And I also lied about...
-
not hearing anything from him again.
-
He wrote letters to me... and to you.
-
They're all... in the kitchen cupboard.
-
They made things so hard for him.
Just because he wasn't in the party.
-
It was dreadful.
He didn't let anyone notice.
-
But I knew.
-
I... knew
and I couldn't help him.
-
And then... there suddenly was
this congress in West Berlin.
-
We only had 2 days to think.
-
Your father wanted to stay in
the West and I...
-
I was supposed to follow with you.
-
Well, I couldn't do it.
-
I... I was very frightened.
-
You don't know, how it is.
Filling in an exit permit...
-
with 2 children. You can't get out immediately.
You have to wait - endlessly!
-
Sometimes even years. And you...
-
They could have taken you away from me.
Do you understand?
-
Yes.
-
I didn't go.
-
It was the worst mistake of my life.
-
I know that now.
-
I lied to you. Please forgive me!
-
My dear Robert...
-
I thought about you so often...
-
I would so much like to
see you once more.
-
The same evening
mother's condition suddenly worsened.
-
Your mother had another heart attack,
just as I feared.
-
At the moment, she's relatively stable.
But I'm afraid...
-
we have to expect the worst.
I'm sorry.
-
The doctors can be wrong.
- Alex, don't lie to yourself.
-
Here, I found it.
He lives in Wannlake.
-
I know, it's her last wish.
But I couldn't bring myself to go there.
-
Mum's not going to die.
-
Bye.
-
Now you can accommodate someone after all.
-
Accommodate? Who?
-
Someone from the West.
-
You have to sleep.
-
If you want you you can sleep
lie down in the nurses' room.
-
There he was. The idol of my youth.
-
Like a conjured spirit
from my childhood: Sigmund Jähn.
-
Like a conjured spirit
of my childhood Sigmund Jähn.
-
He didn't give autographs, he didn't
talk to Pioneers about the secrets of the universe,
-
the freedom you have in zero gravity
or the eternity of the cosmos.
-
He drove a small, stinking Lada-Taxi.
- Where do you want to go?
-
To Wannlake.
- I know what you're thinking.
-
That's what many people think.
But that's not who I am.
-
We were flying through the night.
Just like through the depths of the cosmos.
-
Light-years away from the solar system,
past strange galaxies...
-
with unknown lifeforms,
we landed in Wannlake.
-
Could you wait a moment?
-
I won't be long.
-
Good evening.
- Hello. Come in.
-
Is Mr. Kerner there?
- The buffet is outside. - Over there.
-
Hello.
-
Good evening.
-
Hello! Good evening!
-
Hello!
-
Sandman, dear Sandman,
it isn't time yet...
-
We send the evening greetings...
-
before all the children have to go to bed.
-
You surely have time left.
-
You surely have time left.
-
Hello.
- Hello. - Hello.
-
May I watch the Sandman with you?
- Only if you tell us your name.
-
May I watch the Sandman with you?
- Only if you tell us your name.
-
Alexander.
-
Look,
today the sandman is an astronaut.
-
Where I come from it's called cosmonaut.
-
Where do you come from?
- From a different country.
-
Hi, you little bears.
- Hello, Dad.
-
Hello. How are you?
-
Fine.
-
So, are you also a fan of the Sandman?
-
Yes, I am.
-
Excuse me, do we know each other?
- Yes, we do.
-
Yes. I can't think of it.
Please help me.
-
His name's Alexander.
-
Alex?
-
Robert. Robert!
We're all waiting for you out here.
-
Robert, come out!
-
Robert, we all know that you like to hide
in the bathroom on these occasions.
-
Dad, you have to give your speech.
- Robert, come out here.
-
I'll be back.
-
Oh, I see him.
You've kept us waiting.
-
Onto the stage!
-
Well, I thank you
all for coming here.
-
Thank you and...
-
enjoy the evening. Thanks.
-
enjoy the evening. Thanks.
-
I'm sorry for having this
party here tonight.
-
Had I known you'd come, I...
-
Strange, I've always thought you've got
a swimming pool.
-
We've got a lake nearby.
My god, I didn't even recognize you.
-
Now I got 2 new brothers and sisters, hm?
-
For 3 years, every day I waited
for a message from you.
-
Every day.
-
It was my most fervent wish.
-
Why have you come?
-
Mum's dying.
-
She had a heart attack.
-
She wants to see you once more.
-
What was it like up there?
- Up there?
-
Oh... up there.
-
It was wonderful up there.
-
Just very far away from home.
-
The Wall is no more.
There's no frontier!
-
It's not that bad.
It's all just one country now!
-
I don't understand a word. It's all untrue.
- That's why you have to play along.
-
And why did I come back to the GDR?
-
I don't know. Just think of something!
-
No, it's absurd. I can't do that.
-
You just have to overcome it,
then it'll be easy.
-
Mum.
- Yes.
-
Ouch.
-
I want to get up.
-
How do I look?
-
You can go in now.
-
And please remember, not a word!
- Yes, yes.
-
What did you talk about?
- Is that important?
-
How long has he been in there?
- More than an hour.
-
I hope he doesn't let the cat out of the bag.
-
The summer was over. I decided to end
the whole sham.
-
But once more we were about
to celebrate the anniversary of our socialist Fatherland.
-
But in contrast to reality...
as a dignified farewell.
-
Pst!
-
Yes? Camera running. Start at 3.
-
Dear citizens of the
German Democratic Republic.
-
If you've lived to see the wonder
of watching our blue planet...
-
from the depths of the cosmos...
-
As mum hardly couldn't wait,
we simply moved the GDR's anniversary...
-
from October 7 to October 2, 1990:
The eve of the reunification.
-
And?
-
Here. My best film yet, buddy.
-
Too bad no one but your mother
will ever see it.
-
Thank you, Denis. Without you, it would never...
- Yeah, it's alright. Here you go.
-
Zoom off, before it gets sentimental.
-
And tell me how it was!
-
On the occasion of today's annual anniversary of the GDR,
Erich Honecker resigned...
-
from all his functions.
-
What?
-
We ensure our friends in the world
that the socialism...
-
(Reporter) In his speech on the ceremony for
the GDR's anniversary...
-
in the Republic's palace, Erich Honecker
justified his decision by saying that
-
the changes achieved in the GDR in the past few months...
-
completed his political life's work.
Erich Honecker congratulated...
-
the new SED's CC General Secretary and
Chairman of the GDR's council of state:
-
Sigmund Jähn.
- What, Jähn?
-
In 1978, Sigmund Jähn was the first German
cosmonaut in space.
-
The new head of state addressed the
GDR's population in the evening.
-
Dear citizens of the
German Democratic Republic.
-
If you've lived to see the wonder
of watching our blue planet...
-
from the depths of the cosmos,
you see things differently.
-
Up there, in the depths of space,
the people's lives...
-
Up there, in the depths of space,
the people's lives...
-
seem small and insignificant. You ask yourself
what humanity has accomplished.
-
Which objectives did we set,
which objectives did we realize?
-
Today is our country's anniversary.
-
It's a very little country,
seen from the cosmos.
-
But still thousands of people
came to us last year.
-
People who we looked to as enemies and
who want to live here with us today.
-
We know our country is not perfect.
But what we believe in,
-
inspired a lot of people
in the whole world.
-
Maybe we have drifted off course
from time to time.
-
But we collected ourselves.
Socialism doesn't mean
-
living behind a wall. Socialism means
reaching out to others,
-
and living with others. Not just to dream
about a better world,
-
but to make the world a better place.
-
but making it a better world.
-
I have therefore decided
to open the GDR borders.
-
Shortly after the Fall of the Wall,
thousands of FRG citizens...
-
seized the opportunity
to visit the GDR for the first time.
-
Many want to stay. They're looking
for an alternative to...
-
the hard battle for survival in the capitalistic system.
- Isn't that wonderful?
-
Not everyone wants to join in with career addiction and
aggressive marketing.
-
Not everyone wants
to fight his way through life.
-
(Song) Such a day,
so wonderful like today...
-
These people want a different life.
They realize that cars,
-
video recorders and TVs are not everything.
They are ready to
-
realize a new life with nothing but
good will, vigour and hope.
-
Amazing.
-
My mother survived the GDR
by 3 days.
-
I guess it was the right thing,
that she never did learn the truth.
-
She died happily.
-
She wished for us to
scatter her ashes to the four winds.
-
That's not allowed in Germany.
Not in the West and not in the East. But we didn't care.
-
Up there she is floating and
maybe she is looking down at us.
-
And sees us as tiny
dots on our little Earth.
-
Just like Sigmund Jähn back then.
-
The country my mother left
was a country she had believed in
-
and which we kept alive
until her last second.
-
A country that in fact never existed like this.
-
A country that in my memory
will always be connected to my mother.
