Two families attempt a daredevil plan to escape the GDR with a homemade hot air balloon, but it crashes just before the border. The Stasi finds traces of this attempt to escape and immediately starts investigations, while the two families are forced to build a new escape balloon. With each passing day the Stasi is closer on their heels – a nerve-wracking race against time begins.
Practical Effects
They literally built functional hot air balloons. No CGI excuse here.
Direction
Herbig turns sewing machines into instruments of torture.
Director
Michael Herbig
Karoline Schuch
Doris Strelzyk
Friedrich Mücke
Peter Strelzyk
Alicia von Rittberg
Petra Wetzel
David Kross
Günter Wetzel
Jonas Holdenrieder
Frank Strelzyk
Tilman Döbler
Andreas 'Fitscher' Strelzyk
Thomas Kretschmann
Lieutenant Colonel Seidel
Ronald Kukulies
Erik Baumann
Emily Kusche
Klara Baumann
Ulrich Brandhoff
Lieutenant Colonel Tornow
Sebastian Hülk
Senior Sergeant Lesch
Kai Ivo Baulitz
Lieutenant Strehle
Bernd Michael Lade
Colonel Witzke
Christian Näthe
Captain Heym
Timur Bartels
Private Kenner
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Director Michael Herbig was previously famous for slapstick comedies—this was his dramatic pivot that stunned German critics.
The real Strelzyks became celebrities in West Germany; the Wetzels chose obscurity. The film merges their stories, which sparked debate about dramatic license vs. historical truth.
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