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State Security. "Stasi" for short.

A secret service with the license
to surveil, imprison, and kill.

The fate of thousands in their hands.

Their mission: safeguard East Germany.

Their motto:
You're either with us or against us.

But what about those kids
in Prenzlauer Berg ?

That negative-decadent scene -
NEG-DEC, for short?

Who are they? And why?

Department XX/9
has been set up to find out.

Their smartest and best people

on the most secret
of all secret task forces.

Code name: LSD.

Mission: infiltrate the scene
and rile things up.

EAST BERLIN, 1980s.

BUT IT'S STILL SUNNY.

Shitty East!

Mr. Fuchs!

I know I can count on you.

Got a smoke?
- No.

What's in the bag?
- My Stasi file.

Really?

My family made me get it.
I didn't want it.

I'll go through it with my wife,
take a walk down memory lane,

and then...
- Like a good old family photo album.

Only they took the pictures for you.

You'll have a fab time.

Bye.
- Bye.

There he is,
back from the Stasi office...

What are you doing here ?

You serious?

You've been avoiding this forever.
- I haven't.

But this seems excessive.

Ludger, be nice to your son.

Grandpa!
- Lisa, my angel!

How are you, honey?

I need to interview you for school

about the GDDR
and your book "Strange Cat."

It's "GDR" and "Stray Cat."

STRAY CAT

Better wash my hands.
Just been in touch with the Stasi.

That'll be Rosa. Or the Academy guy
who wants to archive you.

But I'm still alive!
- Why Grandpa?

Your grandpa is a very famous writer.

And a dissident.

What's that?
- One of the good guys.

And good guys go in the archive?
- Yes.

Dad!
- What?

We brought you something.

Spreewald pickles.

And...

Halloren chocolates.

And Schlager sweet bars.
- Schlager sweet bars!

We promised Lisa
a proper Eastie revival party.

Right, honey?

That's his way of saying "I love you."

Lisa, it sounds great,
but please give us a break.

That'll be the Academy guy.

I'd like to look at the file alone first.

Dad, it's an honor to be archived!
- Academy guy...?

Your mom and her ideas...

This is a very private matter.

I'd like...

Oh, hello.

Dietrich.
- Fuchs.

My dear Mr. Fuchs,

the Academy is extremely proud
that you agreed

to us keeping your Stasi file
in our archive.

I did?
- Yes.

Well, I agreed for you.

What?
- You're an important historical figure.

Am I?
- I agree.

Where can I leave my coat?
- Over there.

But I have a right to privacy, right?

The file isn't going to be published.

Of course not.

Not until ten years after your death.
- If people still care.

I haven't even looked at it yet.

Now's the chance.

A small collection?

Just some trinkets
I bought at Checkpoint Charlie.

This is the Distinguished Service Medal.

Order of Merit.

A medal from State Security.

I got revenge eventually.

That mob made my life a living hell.

It's my collection of scalps.

Is this it?
- Yes.

Or we eat first...
- Eat.

...then the file?
- The file first.

File! File! File!

But not here, let's sit over there.

Here we go.

Let's sit down then.

Pardon me!

Here it says "Fuchs."

My little fox.
- Yes.

"The target is 17 years old

and seeking a respectable position
in our society.

According to neighbors and colleagues,

he is friendly yet insecure."

Oh Ludger, I love you!
- I love you too!

Our apartment.
- Yes!

How sweet!
- A cat?

Yeah. Chic Guevara.
- Right, Chic Guevara.

Why'd they photograph a cat?

There were lots
of animal lovers in the Stasi.

OK.

Wow!
- Is that you, Grandpa?

Yes, it is.
- It's an iconic photo.

From a legendary rock concert, right?
- Yes.

My husband was the hottest guy
for miles around.

That's why he was published in the West.

Talent may have played a role too.

Maybe.

Our first night!

Eyes closed, kids!

Where was the photographer?

Hidden somewhere.

What's this?
- That's interesting!

May I?

These handwritten documents are very...

interesting.

"My love, please answer me.

Of all the people in the world,
you are the most talented.

No ass can rock jeans like yours.
And your hard co..."

I didn't write that.
- Oh yes, that is a bit private.

It's not my handwriting.

Or my stationery.

It's not my style either.

Who wrote it then?

No idea.

I'll get my glasses
and take a closer look.

Hold on, the letter is addressed to me.

May I?

Careful, it's fragile.
- I didn't...

They're all photocopies.

We can still treat them with care.

OK, let me see.
- Corinna...

Ludger, I love you.
- Corinna, I love you.

Now you've got me hooked.

What was the cat's name again?
Chic Guevara?

"| love you, Ludger.

You're my Paul... my Jean Paul,

my Bob Dylan, my Sartre, my...

You're a truly spectacular lov...

lover."

Who's it from?

Oh, it's... Ah!

That was long before you.

No, we'd been dating for ages.

It was way before that.

That's not true!
- It is!

There's no date.

Ludger, the whole file
is arranged chronologically.

Then someone messed up.

I must correct you, Mr. Fuchs.

The Stasi was meticulous.

The informant's report
attached to this letter

does have the date on it.

OK, maybe she was in love with me.

I was a hot number,
so anything's possible...

Maybe she never sent the letter...

and ripped it up...

But you answered the letter
she "maybe never sent."

Should I read it?
- No!

I never wanted
to look at this file anyway.

I've always said that.

But I thought...
- Dad!

I thought you were being modest.
- I knew it!

Lisa, come with me.

Dad!
- I can't take it anymore!

Heroes are people too.

Great!

The Stasi has finally
turned us against each other!

A late victory. Great, thanks!

Could you leave the...

Thank you for this...

wonderful evening!

Thanks!

Could you leave the file here?

I'm so stupid!

That's him.

It is.
- No, it's...

Of course it's him.

Pardon me!
- Oh no.

Just a minute.

It is him.
- You're him, aren't you?

The writer? Fuchs?

Yes.
- See? I told her it was you.

We just bought your book
in that bookstore.

Could you write a few words?
- Sure.

It's a gift.

Please put...

"For Jürgen."

Jürgen is my brother.

We're also East Germans.
- Yeah.

West Germans don't get it.

You can say that again.

It's so powerful, how the young man
sells his soul to the devil.

Really great.

We've all done it, right?
Sold our souls to the devil.

I'd like to know one thing.

The young man in the book.

Is it you?

No telling?
- Young Pioneer's Honor.

It's...

To be honest...

It's not as simple as we'd like it to be.

What an arrogant asshole.

Stuck-up prick.

The boy's story starts at a crossroads.
Like most stories.

More precisely,
at a traffic light' on Leninplatz.

What the boy doesn't know...

the elite force
has rigged the light to test him.

Isn't it sweet!

Bunch of animal lovers, are we?

Sissies.

And he passes the test
with flying colors.

"Where am I from? Where am I going?

Yeah, where to ?"

...thinks the young man.

How's the saying go ?

Fare has a name and an address.

Comrade Fuchs,
report immediately to Department XX/9.

This watch was given to me
by Comrade Weaver

when he retired.

"For the best of the best," he said.

And he instructed me

to pass it on to the best of the best

when I retired one day.

So, comrades, give it your all.

Especially because a new comrade
is joining you today.

An outstanding soldier who understands

that a red light is an order

and orders must be followed:

Ludger Fuchs!

Enough.

Quit that nonsense.

This isn't the Humboldt University

and I'm no professor.

Good God, no.

Comrade Fuchs...

graduated from school.

Did anyone else graduate?

You stay here. Everyone else is dismissed.

Go on, get moving.

Comrade Zero!

You stay.

Before I send you out there

I have to tell you a little story.

About a friend
who fell in love while on duty.

He fell in love with an art student

in Weissensee.

Where they celebrate "carnival",

and where the female students

dress up as cats

or as bunnies

with bushy tails and...

fishnet stockings with garter belts.

And before he knew it,

this girl had him by the balls.

What's so funny?

I'm just warning you to be wary

of these artists.

You're going to come
into contact with them.

Our goal here is full penetration.

Learn about them, gain their trust,

rile them up,
and disintegrate them.

The operation is named after the streets

that border the area of operations,
i.e. enemy territory:

"L" as in Lychener Strasse,
"S" as in Schliemann,

then "D" from Duncker.

"LSD."

Turn right up there, then left,
and then we're at the target.

Papeel-Allee... Pappelallee.

That's a Western map.
- Yeah, I got one.

Ours are imprecise.
- Why?

You're so dumb.

For strategic reasons:
to confuse the enemy.

But we're only confusing our own people.

The enemy has the good map.
- You think our leaders are stupid?

I'll sock you in the face.

Assholes! I'll flip your car over!

Step on it!
- Go!

Drive less conspicuously!
We're in enemy territory.

Look!

A negative-decadent.

She's hot. Give me a spin, Neg-Dec!

You're our Helmut Newton!
- Very nice.

Another Neg-Dec.
- Her boyfriend.

Shit! She really has a boyfriend.

Maybe her brother?

His pants are all ripped.

Nope, definitely not her brother.

No, it's not...
- I'd love to have a girlfriend.

You come home, have dinner,

then you get to sleep with her,
she's yours.

They won't quit! Enough already!

You really like that Neg-Dec, huh?

Drive away discreetly.
- They're coming!

Shit!

Get down!
- Move your hand!

Quiet!

Let's go to my place.
- They're going to her place.

I got a pic.
- I got audio.

I took notes.

Don't let them get away!

But they're not our target!

6:33 p.m., Pappelallee.

Special Unit LSD
scouts out the field of operations.

Nothing note worthy to report.

I'm going home for the day.

Good luck, partner.

19 seconds later,
"Operation Lover" begins.

What if someone's home?

No worries, we have two and a half hours.

That's plenty.

"The Scout."

The new Gojko Mitić movie.

Haven't seen it yet.

We're also Indians. Apaches.

Ears to the ground, tracking 'em down
and creeping up from behind.

Do we know no one's home?

We're State Security. We know everything.

The dummies wrote it here.

GONE AGAIN, BACK AT 9

Picking locks is my special skill.

Watch closely. This is an eight.

Almost there.

KEY IS UNDER THE MAT

Open up!

No, it's actually a twelve.

They make it too easy for us.

Right, she'll be home at 9.

You have plenty of time.

And don't forget: subtle clues.

Like we learned.

Nothing should seem unnatural.

We'll be downstairs
watching who comes in and out.

You can count on us.

OK.

Thomas?

Coming to bed?

Thomas...

Hey, honeybee.

I skipped my lecture to come to you.

Hey, there.

You're still dressed.

Take this off.

You're so hot.

The bag!

Thomas!

Corinna?

Yes?

You coming or not?

Could you come here?

What's going on?

What do you mean?

Wanna tell me something?
- Do you?

Champagne? Are we celebrating?

Are you for real?

Would you come in the kitchen?

Someone had a shave.
- Who do you think?

Probably you.

Corinna.

Yes?

Where is he?

Where's who?
- The guy.

Where could he be?
In the closet?

Check, he'll be in there.

I'll make us some
calming lime blossom tea.

You check that closet.

Lover in the closet!

Socks and underwear...
- Sure.

You only want me to check the closet
so I won't do it.

Lover in the closet?
- They're not my briefs.

This situation left me with two options.

Either I came clean
as a State Security employee.

Or as the woman's lover.

I love your wife. Please don't hurt me.

Could you please give me my underwear?

Yes.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Corinna?

What?

Corinna!

What is it?

I checked the closet.

That's it, Thomas.
It's over.

Goodbye.

Help! I'm losing control!

I don't want to do this!

Free love and all that!

I hit my girlfriend!

Where'd you come from?

I was just passing by.

And I heard you screaming.

I thought, "A woman needs help."

Just like that?
- Yup.

You live in the building?
- No.

Then you weren't "passing by."

Or were you visiting someone?

I work for State Security
and follow you.

Sure.

Tell your comrades
there's nothing to find here.

I always say what I think out loud.

I think that's great.
- I think it's normal.

You're bleeding.

You missed some.

I know you don't work for the Stasi
'cause I work for them.

I also say what I think.

What are you thinking now?

That I'd like to kiss you.

You?

Under the table!
Fast!

Get down! Right.

"...should be shot for treason."

Three elite State Security spies.

Four

Three...

elite spies

scratching their balls on duty,

fall asleep in the lookout car

while their comrade
prepares an apartment

without realizing the occupant is present.

Comrade Lieutenant Colonel?
- My ear!

The Minister needs you.
Red alert.

OK then.

Time to start praying.

You come with me, Comrade Fuchs.

You will give your report orally.

He's the Minister for State Security,
not for preschools.

So get your shit together.

We forgot our hats. Shit!

Comrade Mielke's real tough.

No one leaves the way they went in.

How so?
- Some leave bigger, others smaller.

Hi there, Gabi.
- My condolences, Lutz.

He wants to see you right away.

Close the door.

Has anyone died yet, Gabi?

Not yet.

He's in a really foul mood today.

What would I do without you, Gabi?

Let's go then.
- Not you. Sit!

It's high treason, that's what it is!

Not here. There.

Comrade.
- You're a savage.

Excellent, Comrade Brühl.

Don't dilly-dally.

I demand a thorough examination.

Get it over with.

Someone is thwarting our will
and defying orders.

Investigate the...
- Gabi, my breakfast!

Breakfast!
- Breakfast!

Breakfast, Gabi.

Just shoot someone.

Get it over with.
That's what we do.

Right?

Line them up against the wall.

No one could ever replace this man,
but' you 'll have to do.

This is an outstanding sequel.

It's approved.

We'll give the director
the National Prize.

He has it already.
- Then we won't.

And the actor?
- I'll kill him.

Does he have one?
- Troublemaker, says he's blacklisted.

Then not him either.

Come.

Gabi, use a right angle ruler.

Yeah, so...

I'm really angry!

Red alert!

It's my birthday soon.

Do you have any ideas
what we could do for my...

Yes, Erich, I'm on it. A really fun idea.

This time we'll all dress up as...
Wait for it...

targets.
- Targets?

Yes, targets.
- No.

I'll go as this woman.

Ulrike Poppe.

Remember, we just call her "Poppe."

We're not that close.

Some pigtails, red lipstick...

There's your Poppe.

And for you we thought...

You could be a bum.

Long hair, beard, Jesus sandals.

No, shitty idea.
- Shitty idea, Gabi.

I want to shine!

Rosen fell for it.

I can't believe it.

I knew it was Rosen!

Our people would've figured it out
much faster.

Just shoot them!

And they want
to abolish the death penalty...

Did you hear what I heard?

Don't fraternize with me.
I'm small, but not nice.

Our new man...

What's his name?
- Ludger Fuchs.

In the basement?

I'll prepare everything.

To the right.

OK, let's go.

Hello, comrade witnesses.

OK, Comrade Lieutenant, go ahead.

After you.

Wait a second.

Lieutenant?

Comrade...

By order of
the Minister for State Security

of the German Democratic Republic,

I promote you

for exemplary conduct
during an operation

that included enemy contact,
effective immediately,

to Lieutenant of State Security
of the German Democratic Republic.

No need to cry, Comrade!

It's not sad!

I thought...

unforeseen...

You think basements
are only used for eliminating people?

No, we also use them
for a good old promotion.

Nothing flashy. It's secret.

You can't walk
around Prenzlauer Berg with epaulettes.

A Hawaiian shirt with epaulettes!

The crazies would give you a good beating.
Enough!

Here.

Thank you.

Your initials could also be on it one day.

L. F. Ludger Fuchs.

If you keep up the good work.

From now on I'm your handler.

Don't be a pussy.

Your mission is to scout out
the Prenzlauer Berg scene.

Get an apartment there the normal way.

He's coming!

You'll get everything you need.

Where is Comrade Toll from Customs?
- Toll from Customs.

Comrade Toll,
give the Lieutenant all he needs.

OK.

Welcome to the paradise
of intercepted parcels from the West!

Records over there, books here.

What do we have here? Chewing gum.

This is the good stuff.

From Grandma, don't tell Grandpa.

A few of these too?
I'll grab some.

So...

"My dear grandson, the jeans you wanted.

You asked for Levi's,
but C&A also makes excellent pants."

Yeah, right.

"P.S. I'm sure pants and jackets
will get through customs."

So naive!

Have fun shopping.

You need to bring it all back, comrade.

Yeah, you're a looker.

We don't get out much.

Unlike you guys in XX/9!

Why are they all looking up?

Checking for dirty windows
with no curtains.

Why?
- That means they're empty.

And then they break the door down
and move in, damn riffraff.

Hello, young man.

Could you grab the toilet paper?

It's up there.
- Sure.

Thanks, you're a nice boy.

Could you tell me
if there's an apartment...

free here?

Sure, across from me.

I should know. I'm in charge here.

That wasn't necessary.
I have a key.

Pardon me.
- Bonjour.

Pardon me.

Someone lives here.

He's still alive?
- Yes.

Not for long.
- What?

The People's Solidarity comes every week.

Let's say you're a subtenant for now

and when Mr. Wüst dies,
the apartment is all yours.

Hello.

You're a good person.

Nah.

To ensure smooth acceptance

into the heart
of the so-called "Neg-Dec " scene

I need a credible backstory

which / still need to finalize.

Are you the subtenant?
- After three Weeks I'd settled in.

And, except for the sick old man

who died in the next room,

thus making me the main tenant,

there were no incidents to report.

Hey, Ludger!
- There he goes: Lord Shit!

Don't forget Wednesday's
conspiratorial meeting!

Shut up! Enemy territory.

Want them to flip our car over, asshole?

I'm an asshole?
- You're cruising for a bruising!

Don't push me or I'll report you.

Yeah, with your black and blue face!

Wow, look at that!

Identification!

I'm gonna be late for my show,
Mr. Night Watchman.

Sergeant.

Identification.

Where could it be?

It's here somewhere.
Where'd it go?

Where's it hiding?

Where might it...
- I'm gonna help you look, buddy!

Move along!

I don't even have pockets.

Then I'll have to take you in.

Sergeant.

Don't you have any friends?

OK, citizens.
Identification.

All of you.

Here's my vaccine passport.

I'll call for reinforcements.

Now, identification.

SCHOPPEN WINE BAR

I inspect workers' hygiene...

FUCK

OK.

You from the Village Peoples,
you can come in too.

Hello there,

Freddie Mercury.

I'll have a beer.

This is a wine bar. Hence the name.

You have rosé?
- But of course.

Voilà.

Nice stache.

Are you 18?

Is this the "Fairy Bar"?

Sorry, could you repeat that?

No, we can't.

Oh no, he just collapsed.

You OK?

The tear gas works perfectly.

This place rocks.

You have anything to get sauced on?

Rocks? Sauced?
- It's teen slang.

Cheers, gentlemen.

Are you stupid? What are you wearing?

They'll spot you a mile off.

I've never seen you here. Are you gay?

Are these your friends?
- Those guys? No.

You are gay.

What? Me?

Maybe. No. Yes.

You work for the Stasi!

What a cliché!

Is that how I look?

Yes!

Get out, Stasi!

You Pig. you dirty rat!

Someone really
ought to teach you a lesson.

We don't want your type around here.

This guy

borrows a book from me

and then just disappears for a few years.

Robert?

"On the Road" by Jack Kerouac,
two years ago.

Where have you been? In the army?

What are you doing here?
- Having a drink.

Listen up, people,
this is my old childhood friend.

We painted sunrises together.

And sunsets.

And you guys.

Beat it.

Hello!
- Hello!

Time to get cozy, people.

Calm down.

This song is for all those

who will leave us behind

on their voyage to the West.

Our home at the edge

of the Soviet Zone

One hundred miles from the sea

In the far-off

gray interior

Our house

on Schönhauser Allee

Come on up, Heiko!

Come on, Heiko!

Happily we played helmsman

and mate

Tar-stained and carefree

Let' us set' sail before it's too late

Out onto the deep blue sea

Out onto the deep blue sea...

You still write poetry?
And paint?

I run a kind of...

secret salon.

A literary circle.

Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas,
the old lesbian. You read them?

Hemingway's "Moveable Feast."
That kind of thing.

To the South Pole,
we have plenty of money...

I haven't observed anything
"negative-decadent" yet'.

But I don't really know what it means.

Perhaps the danger it presents
is as follows:

its carefree and easy manner

causes others who are politically solid

to doubt their Socialist mission.

A more precise analysis
will require further secret observation.

Only then...
- Hey!

You there.

I can see you.

Under the windowsill.

You shy or what?

Stasi spies must fear
three things above all.

Love...

And sex.

And?

And what?

You said three things.

What do you want from me?

Hey, shy-boy!

Hey, shy-boy! What are you doing?

Me?
- Is anyone else there?

I'm typing, as you can see.

What are you working on?

A novel?

Maybe.

Then you're a poet.

Maybe.
- Can I read it?

It's not done yet.
- I'll be right over.

Put the kettle on,
you can read it to me!

SALINGER, "CATCHER IN THE RYE"

SARTRE, "MEN WITHOUT SHADOWS"

MUSIL, "CONFUSIONS OF YOUNG TÖRLESS"

Well, Comrade Lieutenant?

Long time, no see.

Where's the report?

I was at Wednesday's
conspiratorial meeting.

Where were you?

Hitting the booze, I see.

Look at that: the Sex Pistols.

We made them.

Don't believe me?

We did.

Savagely wild young men with...

swastikas and SS runes.

The idea was to discredit youth culture
among the working class.

That backfired, unfortunately.

You can't be here.

It's against all the conspiratorial rules.

Barely a Lieutenant,
and already explaining the rules.

Listen here, son.

I've been doing this for a long time.

You know?

The meetings are the only thing
we expect of you, OK?

You have to be there.

And it's the Minister's birthday.

If you don't show up, then lights out.

You can't boss me around, Dad!

I didn't mean to intrude!

Who's that? Your girlfriend?

No way!

Hi!

No need to hide. You're a beauty.

I'm Lutz.

Could you do me a favor?

And tell him
not to forget his grandpa's birthday?

Maybe he'll listen to you.

We still give you money every month.

Don't forget that.

Do your parents also support you?

No...
- Well, look at that.

Grandpa will send a car for you.

Your dad's an asshole, huh?
And a little old?

Were you an afterthought?

An only child!

Yeah...

What are you, a psychologist?

But yeah, my dad's an asshole.

A big one.

I thought he'd leave me in peace,
but he won't.

You have a big family?

You could say so.

Very big and scattered all over.

I'd go see your grandpa.
You never know how long he'll live.

You'd be sorry later.

I don't know about that.

He's not my real dad.

Why isn't he your real dad?

I was a foundling.

Like Oliver Twist?

Yeah, exactly.

What's wrong?

I'm imagining you were a book
and I could read you.

And?

And you?
- And me?

What do you do?

I muse around.

You schmooze around?

I muse around.

I'm a muse.

You know Claire Goll?

No.

Lee Miller?

Gala Dali?

Edie Sedgwick?

Everything about Natalie is strange.

Even the way she talks.

She has her own unique sound.

It's almost metaphysical.

Never mind.

Read to me.

It's not done.

You poets are never done.

It's not done because it's not done.

Fine. What's it about?

It's about a man.

A young man.

Who meets a girl.

A young girl.

Very young and pretty.

The girl doesn't know

that the young man has a secret.

A dark secret?

Oh yeah.

The whole thing starts at a traffic light.

It's foggy,

and a figure emerges from the fog.

Want to go for a walk?

Is it boring?

I just want to go for a walk.

SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES
PEACE PRAYER

I come here a lot when I'm bored.

Or when I feel...

weltschmerz.

Did you know they're volunteers?

It's to honor the victims of fascism.
- Who are you? Honecker?

Someone needs to show them
what real beauty is.

People shouldn't take things so seriously.

Hi, Lutz. Hope I'm not disturbing you.

Have you seen the boy's reports?

They're more like poems.

Listen to this:
- I follow the white rabbit.

What's this "white rabbit"?

I come hereto be alone.

The rooms are connected

by dark, twisting passageways
like a rabbit warren.

I follow the white rabbit.

Curious, and full of desire.

I get' initiated into a world
known only to those who are invited in.

Would you like to kiss me now?

I would actually.

Then you have to marry me.

The poems of Else Lasker-Schüler.

I tell you, Berlin Bohéme Theater.

No, Theater Zinnober!

Levandovsky's here.
- Sartre, pass the red wine.

Heiner Müller...

A man with a ponytail...

Drink me!

Kierkegaard, Musil, kiss my ass.

There's deadly nightshade in it!

Allen! Allen!

The uninvited
walk through the Valley of the Clueless.

They know nothing of this Wonderland.

Forget the brother stuff.

I'm sick of all that brotherly garbage.

We sisters have to stick together...

There you are!

Where were you?

You wanted to make an onion pie.
It already started.

Ludger?

Robert!
- You're here?

You know each other?
- Of course.

We painted sunrises together.
- And sunsets.

You are so pretty.

Have you...?

You two...

Drink?

I'll grab you one.

You won't believe who's here:
Allen Ginsberg.

From Greenwich Village, USA.

You just wanted to marry me...
- I always want to get married.

I want at least eight husbands,

and get in the Guinness
Book of World Records.

Prenzlauer Berg's sister city.

Who's that guy?

He's OK, he's a friend.

Ludger. He's a poet.

I know him,

from the bar.

We have a rule:
newbies have to perform something.

Is he unable?

Or unwilling?

You can't just strut in wearing cords
and think that's gonna cut it.

When in danger, it's always better
to do something than nothing.

OK then.

The less you know
what you're doing, the better.

What a phoney!
- Totally surreal.

No, it's...
- Expressionist...

Ludger?
- . . . deconstructionist...

What does this mean?
- Postmodern.

An artist doesn't explain.
- post-Dadaist performance.

Pearls before swine.

In any case, a modern performance.

A picture puzzle.

Why are we the swine?

Because your poems suck.

Tone it down, yeah?
- Maybe that's why.

I made it myself!

You're all useless!

You can't paint, can't write poetry.

Ever heard of self-doubt?

My pearls before you swine.

If you don't know what happiness is,
drink "Halle asthma weed".

A hallucinogen used
as a drug for asthmatics.

Inhaling a vapor of the weed

provides respiratory relief.

Taken orally,

the thorn apple
and deadly nightshade take hold

and open the doors of perception.

Available at your local pharmacy for
the standard national price of 2.50 marks.

No prescription necessary.

"Do not disturb. Love."

They've been in there for four days.

An endless trip.

The borders
between fantasy and reality blur.

You're part of a world
where everything is possible.

What are you wearing?
- Get in!

You feel free and open-minded.

You prepare for a journey
to another world.

Got any water?

You don't ask whether this is reality

or if it's all in your head.

You don 'I need answers,
because it's all so clear.

Lieutenant forgot the Minister's birthday.
- I'm so excited.

Is my Allonge wig on right?
- No.

"Allonge wig." He's so educated.

Pull yourself together!

Know where we are?
The Minister's hunting lodge.

Oh, they're alive.

They saluted. They saluted!

Comrade Minister for State Security,

His Majesty

of the German Democratic Republic,

Erich...

"the Great"

Mielke!

Last year we pulled,
now we get to push!

Come on! Comrade Messieurs!

Lifters! Lifters!

Help him.

No!

Lutz!

Come here, Lutz.

Is that the comrade?
- That's him.

Comrade Fuchs.

An outstanding worker.

Then come with me.

Damn shoes!

Here.

We can have a proper talk at this tree.

The enemy, you know...

But this tree is bug-proof.

Pearls before swine.

Is that the new trend?

Is "pearls before swine" the latest thing?

They're laughing at us.

They're poking fun at us.

They're ridiculing us, right?
- Who?

Them.

They're meeting in churches now.

And I know they're not praying.

Familiar with this?
"Swords into Plowshares"?

"Church from Below"?

It's nothing of the sort.

It comes from above.

They're not saying mass in there,
my friend.

They're counter-revolutionary assemblies.

They're meeting in churches,
and we can't get at them.

That's why we have you.

Here.

Look at this apple.

This nice, round,

shiny,

juicy apple is us.

It's our society.

The problem are these maggots.

They eat and eat and wallow in our juice.

We have to do something about it.

Yes, but that could
also be flipped around.

We're the maggots
spoiling their apple from the inside.

We need to find images
that don't work in reverse.

That's how metaphors work.

Scared? Are you scared?

Not really.

Very good.

Better to be scared.

I'm a worker.
Once a worker, always a worker.

We fought the fascists.

We had no mercy.

Our problem now?

The maggots.

We need to eliminate them.

You'll marry this girl.

Yes, that's an order, Comrade Lieutenant.

You will marry this girl.
Sword and shield, got it?

But she has a boyfriend.

For now. We'll take care of it.

That was a long one with the boss.

Haven't seen you for a while.

Were you up his ass the whole time?

I'm not sure.
- About what, you tapeworm?

He must have said something.

You can tell me everything.

It's over. Finished. Done. Stop!

Stop!

Now I'd like to hear
"The Young Trumpeter."

Oh Gabi, not again.

Of all our comrades

None was so kind and good

As our young trumpeter

With his merry Red Guard blood

Here. Read this.

Everything you want to know
about your future wife.

Hasn't it ever happened to you?

You meet someone and think,

"Man, I know her.

I've always dreamt of her."

She has really got you by the balls.

You have to be careful.

I observed my future wife
for two years.

But I knew she was the one for me.

That's how Stasi spies do it.

Now she's gone. Oh well.

We need a return
to our agency's glory days.

We have to...

OK, we've got our foot in the door.

Then we'll get the whole leg.
Then the ass.

So I'm the foot?
- You're the foot. You lead the dance.

I'm the ass.

We'll be dancing into the churches
where they meet.

Conspiratorially.

Churches?

She doesn't go to church.

She's more into Sartre
and that kind of stuff.

Her?

I thought...

I don't even know her. I mean...

We only had one...

That doesn't matter.

Women want to save men.

That's the irony.
- But I don't want her.

Listen up, son.

Something is brewing in this country.

Out there, everywhere,
in every nook and cranny.

We're at war.

We're at war with the class enemy.

Have been since '45.

You're a soldier, and this is an order.

Then I quit.

Quit?
- Yes, I quit!

Quit!

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

You fooling around with Natalie?

Not now, Robert. I'm tired.

Look at me.

I haven't slept in two days.

Why not?
- We were having a discussion.

From the day before yesterday until now.

About what?
- You.

About "pearls before swine."

About our next move.

Know what Allen Ginsberg said
about your performance?

That I was an embarrassment?

What?
- Yeah.

Pure genius.

You made a stir.
Everyone's talking about it.

The chicks are mad about you.

Including Natalie.

What?

She said you're at your typewriter
clay and night.

Yeah, that's true.

A novel about
a young man at a traffic light?

But I think the story's hit a dead end.

No.

Shit, everyone's waiting to read it.

Pull yourself together.
Trust Allen Ginsberg.

Trust Natalie.

She's a real fan. And a real muse.

Then I'd keep an eye on her.

I don't work for the Stasi.

She went to Hiddensee with a few friends.

Off-season, nude beach.

She said she wants eight husbands.

Totally crazy, huh?

I'm going to marry her.

Congratulations.

Like John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
- Sure.

I'm Yoko, of course.
- Right.

I love her. I want to grow old with her.

And I love you.

You will finish your novel.

And together

we'll unhinge the universe.

Voilà.

A READING BY LUDGER FUCHS

"THE PETTY BOURGEOIS
UNDER THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE"

ABSOLUTE BUG-PROOF

HALLE ASTHMA WEED

ROBERT MUSIL
"THE MAN WITHOUT QUALITIES"

EVIDENCE:
"PEARLS BEFORE SWINE"

ls "pearls before swine” the latest thing?

They're laughing at us.

They're poking fun at us.

MINISTRY FOR STATE SECURITY

Now begins Phase Three.

Code name: "Women Want To Save Men."

No mercy, Lutz. No mercy.

You'll see, Erich.

I've got my best men on it.

Think he'll come?

FREE ELECTIONS
NO VIOLENCE

It was an order.

I feel so sorry for him.

It hurts. He's in pain.

Oh, him.

Go up to the bell tower, Zero,
and see where he is.

Why do I have to go?

Get going!

You idiot! Do the test from up top!

Sorry.

Look who it is.

Ludger!

Hi! How's it going, lady killer?

You'll blow my cover!

We want... Can we talk a minute?
- Look at you!

What do you look like?
- Different.

What do we look like?

Like you're Stasi.

Thirty seconds to twelve.

The speckled bird has left her nest.

She's nearing the church.

Now it's twelve sharp.

Oh no!

Can't get past.

See? This isn't working.

Hey! What are you doing?

Leave that man alone!
- Stay out of it!

State Security!
- I don't care!

NO VIOLENCE

SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES

Not me, you idiot!

My eyes!

I can't see anything!

I'm blind!

In you get!

That's enough, OK?

Can't get enough, can you?

Get in!
- Come along if you dare.

Little wildcat, huh?

She's crazy!

How are you? Are you hurt?

I'm fantastic.

Why'd you get involved?

Now you're in the shit too.

The little bird
is returning to the nest.

Are you afraid?

Don't be, just do what's right.

A side note: the enemy uses
the same tear gas as us.

You're dangerous.

Quiet back there!

So are you.

You changed my life.

Since we spent that night together.

The poetry I write, the music...

All of a sudden I can do anything.

I was one of your first, wasn't I?

Why didn't you visit me again?

You're an evil woman!

So rowdy...

I feel like proposing to you right now.

It's definitely a very
unique place for it.

You may now kiss the bride.

Go forth and multiply.

NO VIOLENCE

RESISTANCE IN EAST GERMANY

I knew you'd come one clay.

Zero.

Who would've thought, huh?

Perfect disguise. Top drawer.

It's not a disguise.

I really did become a minister.

Then I got my file, Zero...

You can call me Benedict.
- Benedict?

My name's hardly Zero.

I had it all planned.

I had destroyed
my employment history file long ago.

You have to call it...

your "perpetrator file."

Yeah, but...

I got my "dissident file".

And I didn't expect it
to contain that girl's letter.

Yeah, well...

The truth is patient. It can wait.

It will come out eventually.

You don't know how bright and sunny
the truth can be.

When I was in the clock tower,

He appeared to me and I knew

from then on, I would be reporting

to the one who truly sees and hears all.

To finally be oneself, right?

Free of all those lies.

How have you been able
to stand it all these years?

Poor you, reporting on your own wife...

It's crazy.

I don 'I know.

No idea.

Anyway, Siemens waited for me
and I stopped coming.

I observed people

and Wrote about them.

And my texts got longer and longer.

Bur that day...

Where are you going?

Me?

I have an appointment.

An appointment?
- Yes.

What's that?
- Nothing.

Nothing?
- Right. Nothing.

I'd like to read "nothing."

OK, when I get back
you can read "nothing."

Till then I can't read anything?

Not even "nothing."

I'm coming too.
- No!

Let me get dressed.
- Head's up! He's coming.

You and your secrets.

Didn't we swear not to keep secrets?

The manuscript wasn't clone.

You can't read my unfinished work.

I fully understand.

You're an artist.

They seem to be very interested
in your secrets, though.

Just ignore them.

THE WALL MUST GO

Typical macho,
always pacing ahead of me.

Wait up!
- I'm in a hurry.

But he's one of us.

We need to be observed, too.

Sure.

I observe you. You observe me. Right?

Identification.
- What?

Identification.

Why are you driving around so slowly?

Pardon me. Sorry.

Drive as slow as you like.

OK. It's fine.

Stop doing that!

Go away!

Cut it out!

I have to go buy maxipads anyway.

Why? You have a whole pile.

When I need them, they may be out.

I buy them when they have them
instead of waiting till I need them.

Nice long line, that's a good sign.

Mrs. F. tells a bald lie to skip the line
and get' into the drugstore.

My sister is waiting for me inside.

I have a sister too.

Mrs. F. uses the opportunity
to rile up peaceful citizens.

Save your energy for something important.
Like revolution.

About 15 seconds later,

N., a friend of F.,
leaves the drugstore.

Look who it is!

He's in trouble.

Three seconds later,
Mrs. F. exits the store empty-handed.

That's right, I'm closing.

No!

F. is forced to abandon his hiding place.

Comrade Siemens, please come in!

Speak in code! The enemy's listening in.
- I know!

Tokaito to Siemens.
- Since when are you Tokaito?

Ludger?

He's in a tight spot...

F. is trying not to be seen by N.

Don't stop!

At the record store, F. takes cover
in a line of mostly young citizens

waiting to buy an approved disc.

Hey, the line ends back there.

Ludger!

F. is gutlessly avoiding
a confrontation with F. and N.

Apache to Indians, come in.

Where have you been all this time?

I've been working.

On your manuscript?
- Yeah, on my...

No, no...
- Can I please read it?

Maybe later.

She has the file!

Natalie...
- What do we have here?

Is this it?

Apache to Indians, come in.

Come and get it.
- She has the report'!

Why can't I read it?
- I don't want you to.

Idiot!
- Then get it.

Ludger!
- You know where I live.

Corinna!
- What are you doing here?

Checking out the scene.
- People are restless. They're fed up.

Hey, I got one!
- Grönemeyer, "Bochum"!

It was the last one.
- Typical!

Counter-revolutionaries ?
What's going on ?

Could you not rile people up for once?

Go file a complaint!

It's just terrible.

PUT THE STASI TO WORK!!!

No pictures!

No pictures!

I have to go to the publisher's.
- This is a pre-revolutionary situation.

Only those who stand in line might,

and I mean might, get a record from me.

OK, I think it would be good if we...

all formed a line. He's right.

Then maybe we'll get our hands
on a swell record.

Ah, OK.

Since we're all here,
let's take the opportunity

to talk about a few other things.

Freedom of the press, freedom to travel,

freedom of expression...

Boy meets girl. They're both young.

Then the boy meets another girl,
and things get complicated.

"My father
never told my mother the truth, "

thinks the boy.

But the truth is overrated.

"Someday I'll get my soul back, "

he thinks.

And he doesn't give up hope.

Yeah.

It's true.

I'm no poet.

You asshole.

I wasn't allowed to read it.

You didn't want me to see it.

I always said
you were talented, but...

but this...

I've been crying my eyes out
while reading it.

It's just so beautiful,

how the poor boy waits
at the traffic light

and sells his soul, and how in the end...

it's so futile,

so wonderfully hopeless.

How can anyone describe people so well?

You're truly...

an amazing observer of people.

I love geniuses.

What are you doing here?

Ludger...

You're supposed to be my friend.
- I am your friend.

Robert, you have to read what he wrote.

He... He's... a genius.

That's no reason
to make out with my girlfriend,

to sleep with her.

Wait a second.

Do I have a say in this?

Natalie, please!

What is this, Robert?

Want me to hit you?

Not really.

Yeah.

Like this?

Stop, Robert!

Fine, I'll stop.

I'll stop with this bullshit!

Know what I think?

You haven't understood anything.

Nothing?
- Not Sartre. Not Simone.

Not Bobby. Not Jimmy.
- I'll do some reading.

You think the old fogeys
in the party are the problem.

Poppycock!
You! You're the problem.

Really? I haven't understood?

Let me read you this. It's right here.

"Thou shalt not fuck
your friend's girlfriend."

Or here.

"The Fucker in the Rye"

Look! "Das Kapital."

Ludger Fuchs is an asshole!

I brought you in here.

And you...

fuck my girlfriend!

If we want to change society...

first we have to change ourselves.

Yeah.

It's true.

Deep down I know it.

But...

freedom...

and love...

don't go together.

Come on, Robert, stop.

You're my friend.

Maybe.

Like "Jules et Jim", you know?

Robert.

Here.

Stay at my place for now, then we'll see.

The truth requires courage.

And why do sons have to be
like their fathers anyway?

Go to her place and tel/ her the truth-
The whole truth-

There you are.
I was about to come get you.

Guess who's here.

There he is: my famous son!

Your clad.

Give me a minute of your time.

I love you.

Have a seat.

First I was over in your old apartment.

But there was another young man there,

crying his eyes out.

Heartbroken, I bet.

Natalie told me

how much she loves your poetry.

Your dad told me
you're getting published in the West.

That's great!

The firm's listening.

He used to show us everything too.

But ever since he became famous,

he doesn't want to know
his family anymore.

Know what? I've had enough. I'm leaving.

Just wait a second, son.

Come on, sit down.

Sit back down. Come on.

Don't be a pussy.

Just sit back down
for another little second.

A teeny-weeny second, sit down.

There we go.

When this is all over,

when all your friends have abandoned you,

what will you have left?

What's the one thing?

Your family.

My family can kiss my ass.

But your family won't do that.

Not your wife. Not your father.
Not your grandfather.

I don't care.

Get out of here.
- Grandpa doesn't mess around.

Can you check on Robert?
- And neither do I!

So...
- He really told you about the wedding?

Yes.

I should really be...

taking care of a few things.

We could also meet up.

Just the two of us. Alone.

Why?

I'm also a lover of words.

What do you mean?
- I read your letter.

It was very beautiful.

Shit!
- Don't say that.

Robert!

What a moron.

Unbelievable.

Love hurts.

Who knows that better than me?

The reports are on the cupboard.

Foolish boy.

It's my mailbox.

Just forgot my key.

This really isn't all that bad.

Now, off to the last battle.

Corinna?

There you are!

Where were you?
I looked everywhere for you.

I have to tell you something important.

I have something to tell you, Ludger.

OK, you first.
- No, you.

No, you.
- No, you.

OK, at the same time.

I'm...
- I'm...

OK...
- Fine, you...

Corinna...
- I'm pregnant.

Corinna...
You're pregnant?

Is it mine?

Who else's would it be?

You're pregnant!
- And what are you?

I'm an asshole.

A really big asshole.

We can work on that.

I can get a pregnancy benefit.

A thousand marks.

Plus child benefit.

Not bad, huh?
- How much did you say?

Ludger?
- Yes?

I love you.

Good night, my friends

It's time for me to go

All the things I should've said

Will take just one cigarette

And one last drink for the road

Thanks for the night and the day

Thanks for the place to stay

For the seat at' your table

For the drink at my lips

For letting me sit next to you

Like it was the natural thing to do

Look!

You get to make a wish.

I wish for...

I wish us happiness.

Oh! Now I said it out loud.

You shouldn't do that.

It'll be fine.

Come down on the streets!

Stop!

I'll report anyone who crosses on red.

Every single person.

That worked.

Now we're all going to go right back home.

TAKE YOUR HAT

Good night, my friends

It's time for me to go

All the things I should've said

Will take just one cigarette

And one last drink for the road

Thanks for all your time

For all our conversations

And when we disagreed

Thanks for all your patience

Thanks for never asking when or why or how

For the door that's always open

The door where I'm standing now

NO MORE SPYING

Good night, my friends

It's time for me to go

All the things I should've said

Will take just one cigarette

And one last glass for the road

The last man standing
turns off the lights.

That's a big bouquet.

You screwed up bad, huh?

I'd forgive you
if you gave me a bouquet like that.

What did you do?

It's a long story.

Why didn't you tell her before?

I wanted to but...
i don't know.

Too chicken?
- Something always came up.

I know what you mean. I know.

But now it's time.

Oh, Ludger!
- He's finally here!

Please calm down.

Yes!

Yes, you did it.

Oh, Ludger!

Ludger!

Ludger?

Oh, Ludger!
- His name is Ludger?

Grandpa, I held Rosa's hand.
- That's nice.

Hello.

Are you the father? Or grandfather?
Never know these days.

You're here at last!

You're a doctor?
- No, archivist.

An archivist.
- I'm Dietrich.

Good you were there.
- Hey, Ludger!

It went smoothly.
- Expertly done.

A nice smooth birth.

Here.

Ludger...

Put the flowers down.
- Is that the file?

I'll take it, so...

your children and grandchildren
will always know the value of integrity.

We're done here.

We'll leave them to it.

Come on, Lisa.

You're a grandpa!

Do we have a scale?

In the kitchen.

Corinna, now or never I have to...
- I'm sorry about last night.

I overreacted because of the letter.

Yeah, i...

That scared me.

Here. This is for your collection.

"For the best of the best. C. F."

"Corinna Fuchs."

You're dangerous.

So are you.

OK, friends.

Take care.

Oh, that is a very rare item.

That's no trinket.
- It's a gift from my wife.

Do you have maxipads?
- What?

We need maxipads right away.
- Why would we have any?

You want this place
to look like a Tarantino film set?

Then go get some.
- Doctor!

Would you like a glass too?

I wouldn't say no.

To little Ludger.

To Ludger.
- Congratulations.

It's red!
- You wanna die?

Hello there.

What did we do wrong?

Yeah, what...

Right.

And while he reflects
about right and wrong,

loyalty and treachery,

for some reason he remembers

the motto of the old Apache chief i

"The hatchet is only buried

when no one remembers where it is. "

"That's ridiculous, " he thinks.

"Apaches can also make mistakes."

A STASI COMEDY

And now, story time is over.

FOR MY SISTER IRIS

Subtitles:
www.subtext-berlin .com