Die Mauer – Berlin '61

The story

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.

Cast & crew

Iris BerbenLavinia Kellermann

Johanna GastdorfRenate Sawatzke

Heino FerchHans Kuhlke

Inka FriedrichKatharina Kuhlke

Sybille J. SchedwillFrau im Zug

Axel PrahlErwin Sawatzke

Frederick LauPaul Kuhlke

Wilfried HochholdingerFDJ-Funktionär und Erzieher

Marie GruberNachbarin

Ralf DittrichCast

Ralph MisskeMitarbeiter Beratungsstelle für Flüchtlinge

George LenzFotograf Robert Bräutigam