Born in ’45

Alfred and Lisa – or Al and Li – a young couple from Prenzlauer Berg, have decided to part ways. Their cramped apartment feels suffocating, especially for Al, a car mechanic and motorcycle enthusiast who longs for freedom. Li, a nurse, struggles with the breakup and hopes for a clarifying conversation. Perhaps they’ll find a way to get back together again?

Following the 11th Plenum of the SED Central Committee, BORN IN 45 was banned in its rough cut and completed only after the fall of the Berlin Wall, premiering in 1990 at the Academy of Arts and at the Berlinale. From today’s perspective, the ban is surprising, since the film contains no overt criticism of the system. More striking is the film’s aesthetic style: shot entirely on location in East Berlin and inspired by Italian neorealism and the Czech New Wave. The authorities took a particular disliking to the portrayal of young men like Al, who drift aimlessly through life rather than conform to the ideal of the hard-working GDR youth. Jürgen Böttcher, one of East Germany’s most important filmmakers, has received numerous awards. This year, he celebrates his 95th birthday.

Image © DEFA-Stiftung / Roland Gräf