Overview

August 1961: To earn a bit of West German money, East Berlin "plaselayer" Hans Kuhlke smuggles scrap metal to his friend Erwin Sawatzke in West Berlin. One evening, he and his wife are invited to the Sawatzkes' house. Meanwhile, their son Paul stays with a friend in East Berlin. On this summer night, the political situation in Berlin comes to a dramatic head: the borders are closed and the construction of the Wall is initiated. The disappearance of his parents leaves 14-year-old pioneer Paul torn between family ties and loyalty to the party. At the last second, he sees through his role in the system and is taken in by his piano teacher. Together they plan their escape to the West - but it turns into a race against time.

Top Cast

Iris Berben

Lavinia Kellermann

Johanna Gastdorf

Renate Sawatzke

Heino Ferch

Hans Kuhlke

Inka Friedrich

Katharina Kuhlke

Sybille J. Schedwill

Frau im Zug

Axel Prahl

Erwin Sawatzke

Frederick Lau

Paul Kuhlke

Wilfried Hochholdinger

FDJ-Funktionär und Erzieher

Marie Gruber

Nachbarin

Ralf Dittrich

Ralph Misske

Mitarbeiter Beratungsstelle für Flüchtlinge

George Lenz

Fotograf Robert Bräutigam