East German Romeo gets dumped, hospitalized, AND meets his manic pixie nurse in 83 minutes. Efficiency!
GDR border guard Gunter Rist is a young man from humble homes. During a swimming competition he meets Penny, a professor’s daughter from a good family, and they fall in love. However, their different social backgrounds get in the way of their happiness: Penny’s friends make it obvious that they are not willing to accept Gunter in their group. Although Penny takes Gunter’s side, she doubts if love can overcome all obstacles. In this state, she falls for the advances of her ex-boyfriend Bob and joins him on vacation. In the meantime, Gunter has an accident and is hospitalized. In the hospital, he meets the nurse Li who seems to be perfect for him.
Acting
Angelica Domröse steals every scene as the too-perfect nurse Li.
Production
GDR swimming pools and hospital wards never looked this aspirational.
Director
Frank Vogel
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Frank Vogel directed this during the brief 'Kahlschlag' thaw, when DEFA studios experimented with more personal stories—before the Berlin Wall's construction hardened everything.
The swimming competition scenes were filmed at East Berlin's Stadtbad Mitte, a real GDR prestige location that ordinary citizens could rarely access—ironic given the film's class critique.
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