An die Grenze (2007)

May 1974: The story is about 19-year-old Alexander Karow. He begins his military service in the National People’s Army, hoping to escape his overprotective father. His father is a highly respected chemistry professor in the GDR who had asked the authorities to defer Alexander’s conscription. With Alexander’s consent, he is assigned to the border troops; at his interview with the conscription commission, he is promised training in his chosen profession as a photographer. The reality of the German-German border, with its automated firing devices and other mines, weighs heavily on him. As a “bigwig’s son,” he is a particularly popular target for some of his comrades’ harassment. Private Kerner in particular takes pleasure in tormenting the new recruits. But Alexander’s circle of friends sticks together, and one of the privates, Gappa, takes Alex under his wing. The soldiers are preoccupied day and night with the question of what happens when someone trying to cross the border appears in the sights of a Kalashnikov. Guard duty along the death strip becomes an increasingly heavy burden for Alexander. He finds comfort in Christine, a young tractor driver. She lives with her family not far from the border strip and falls in love with Alexander. Her brother, an outspoken opponent of the socialist system, objects to the relationship. Even while on border duty, Alexander is a passionate photographer, and Christine gives him a camera. He uses it to take numerous erotic snapshots of his beloved. Unfortunately for him, however, he also photographs the border barriers, which is strictly forbidden. The situation gets out of control when Christine’s brother steals one of these photos and sends it to the West. For their safety, Christine and her brother plan to flee to the West, and Alexander is now torn.