Der gleiche Himmel

This decade, Germany has produced dozens of good films and series about life and habits during Cold War around FRG/GDR/West-Berlin, with versatile and intertwined plots, good character actors and apt understanding of environment and way of life. Der gleiche Himmel is another good brick in this wall, where focus is not entirely on one family, enabling to provide a broader picture of repressve, yet tragicomic life in socialist parts of Germany. The events seem realistic, perhaps the last episode rounded them up a bit hastily and "by halves" - apparently according to the filmmakers´vision. As mentioned, the cast is good as well, but here, I would like to spotlight the Swedish actress Sofia Helin as Lauren; for comparison, just watch here in "The Bridge" (Scandinavian version) and you will find out how talented and varied she is! Recommended to all those interested in German lifestyle prior to unification.