Shot in 1990, this portrayal of life in East Berlin offers a snapshot of what life was like just before the wall came down and communism gave way to a more democratic way of life. The film follows the fortunes of architect Daniel Brenner (Kurt Naumann) as he attempts to design a thoroughly modern new part of the city, with the results coming at an enormous personal price for the young designer. The government doesn't like his scheme, his wife leaves him due to the length of time he is spending on the project, and his ideas are constantly being compromised by the artless bureaucrats in charge of executing the plans. Daniel's decaying life mirrors what is occurring to the city he loves, making this a powerful portrait of life under a communist regime.
