Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie (original title)
UFA FICTION GmbH • TV Movie • ARTE • 2007
It centers on the fate of a woman who, in the 1980s, falls into the clutches of the GDR's dictatorial regime for attempting to flee the republic and is sentenced to three years in prison, separated from her daughters.
Screenwriter Annette Hess developed the story based on the novel “Give me back my children! – The case of Jutta Gallus” by Ines Veith, representing the fate of many.
“Die Frau vom Checkpoint Charlie” is a co-production of UFA Fernsehproduktion, NL Leipzig with Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, ARD Degeto and ARTE, funded by Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM).
Jörg Widmer was behind the camera, Norbert Sauer is the producer and Cornelia Wecker is the producer. The editor in charge is Jana Brandt (MDR). The other editors responsible are Bettina Ricklefs (BR) and Rosemarie Wintgen (RBB). Filming took place in and around Leipzig, Berlin, Bucharest and Helsinki.
CONTENT OF THE FILM
Spring 1982: Sara Bender (Veronica Ferres) lives with her daughters Silvia, 11, (Maria Ehrich) and Bine, 9, (Elisa Schlott) in Erfurt. When Sara decides to marry her longtime boyfriend Peter Koch (Peter Kremer), she has only one wish: Johannes, her father, (Peter Franke) is to travel from the West for the wedding. Johannes has a serious accident on the journey to the GDR. The wedding is called off for the time being and Sara does everything she can to visit her father in hospital – but the authorities refuse to allow Sara to leave the country because she is listed in the files as a potential enemy of the state. She has openly expressed her opinion about the system too often, causing unrest. When her father dies shortly afterwards, Sara’s world collapses. Now she is certain that she wants to leave the GDR with her children forever – with or without Peter. But her application to leave the country is rejected and Sara decides to turn her back on the GDR illegally, unaware of what this means for her future …
Cast & Crew
CAST
Sara Bender
Veronica Ferres
Peter Koch
Peter Kremer
Richard Panter
Filip Peeters
Silvia Bender
Maria Ehrich
Sabine Bender
Elisa Schlott
CREW
Screenplay
Annette Hess
Direction
Miguel Alexandre
Camera
Jörg Widmer
Producer
Norbert Sauer
Producer
Cornelia Wecker
Editorial office
Jana Brandt (MDR, in charge), Bettina Ricklefs (BR), Rosemarie Wintgen (RBB)
Production design
Lothar Holler
Costume design
Ingrid Zoré
Make-up
Astrid Mariaschk, Jeanette Latzelsberger, Tanja Straub
Cut
Andreas Herzog
Music
Dominic Roth
Sound
Eric Rueff
Production management
Michael Wintzer
Production management
Frank Mähr
Customer
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