Section: Von Frust und Freiheit

Der Kontrolleur

The Conductor

Stefan Trampe

Germany, 1994, 62 Min

With the fall of the Wall Hermann loses not only his border guard job, but also "his" Marianne. He stoically guards both the old GDR border post and his memories. When Inge, the landlady of his regular restaurant, drops by, the inspector loses control.

In the past border guard Hermann was an important man, whoever wanted to get in or out of the country had to satisfy the demands of his strict, scrutinising look. When the wall came down he not only lost his life's work, but at the same time also his wife, who died of a heart attack. He is unable to find his place in this strange, changed world, withdraws and constructs a wall around his memories. Out of habit he continues to drive to work at the old border post every day. Those around him have largely abandoned him. Only landlady Inge, having taken the loner to heart, continues to show an interest in Hermann and his life. Little does she know how much he has gotten stuck in the past, nor what danger she is putting herself in with her visit to the long-opened border. DD

Stefan Trampe -

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