On June 17, 1953, there was an outrageous action between the Elbe and the Oder: the people in the GDR refused obedience to their political leadership. The story takes place in Bitterfeld and tells the story of a family involved in the political events around 17 June.
Acting
Peter Sodann's crumpled dignity as a man watching his world betray him.
Production
GDR-period detail that feels lived-in, not museum-piece.
Director
Thomas Freundner
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
June 17 became 'Day of German Unity' in West Germany—a holiday the GDR literally couldn't mention. The film restores what state memory erased.
Bitterfeld was no accident: the 1959 'Bitterfeld Path' made it symbol of worker-artist unity, making this 2003 film a deliberate unmasking of that propaganda.
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