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.
as Lavinia Kellermann
as Renate Sawatzke
as Hans Kuhlke
as Katharina Kuhlke
as Frau im Zug
as Erwin Sawatzke
as Paul Kuhlke
as FDJ-Funktionär und Erzieher
as Nachbarin
as Mitarbeiter Beratungsstelle für Flüchtlinge
as Fotograf Robert Bräutigam
as Ausweiskontrolleur im Zug
as Franziska
as Flüchtling
as Volkspolizist
as Passantin
as Grenzsoldat
as Erich
as Jugendliche
as Kioskbesitzerin
as Erzähler (voice)
