The Return (2/6)

The Return (2/6)

The operation is a success: Martin's kidney is accepted by Roman's body. Whilst the Kupfer family gratefully celebrate Roman's recovery Martin waits longingly to see Julia again. Falk has promised Martin Julia will be released when he donates his son a kidney.Julia is suddenly released from prison. When Martin arrives at her door shortly afterwards Julia refuses to let him in. She is psychologically completely overwhelmed. The years in prison, the lost child, the uncertainty, the lies about Martin - she cannot process all this so quickly. But Martin does not want to lose her again. He tries over and over to make contact with her. After several attempts he succeeds in breaking through her emotional armour plating.Vera and Falk try yet again to save their relationship and visit a marriage guidance counsellor. But when Falk notices the psychologist is instead reinforcing his wife's doubts instead of stabilising their marriage he threatens the woman. Vera makes the acquaintance of Robert Wolff. When she learns that Robert is a pastor she panics: as the wife of an important member of the Stasi she is forbidden from moving in such circles. However she does not turn down an invitation to a parish event. On the dance-floor she feels free and alive such as she has not felt in years.Whilst Robert trusts Vera mistrust is growing amongst his parishioners. Frank Luchnik fears Vera could be an informer. Since his incarceration in Bautzen prison he no longer trusts anybody. And his reservations are justified because the Ministry of State Security has the church's peace group under observation.

Taking its name from the locality in the then divided city that houses the notorious Stasi secret police-run Hohenschönhausen prison, the series tells of young police officer Martin, from a loyal Party family, who falls in love with the beautiful young and rebellious Julia, from a family of dissidents: a Romeo & Juliet saga of two lovers struggling against prejudices and the social and political odds.

Grimme Award 2016
German Screen Actors Award 2014
German TV Award 2011 for Best Series
Nominated for Prix Europa 2011  
The first 6 episodes to be screened at Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) New York in April 2011.

PRESS REVIEWS

• Family saga Weissensee recounts what life in East Germany was like, in a DALLAS style. (Der Spiegel, Sept. 13, 2010)
  
• Weissensee (...) is simply a well-made drama, which profits from a tight story arc, a superb cast and terrific set design. (Süddeutsche Zeitung, Sept. 14, 2010)
  
• Behind the surface story of two families in 1980s Socialist East Germany - replete with romance, intrigue and betrayal - a piece of real life emerges: authentic, dramatic. (Welt Online, Sept. 14, 2010)
  
• A courageous effort - which pays off handsomely. Beneath the soap opera plot, a complex web of desires and wishes emerges, of self-deception and patronizing. (Spiegel Online, Sept. 14, 2010)
  
• A highly original TV series. (Leipziger Volkszeitung, Sept. 6, 2010)
  
• Germany's biggest newspaper BILD headlined "The most spectacular TV series of the year." (Sept. 11, 2010)