Erscheinen Pflicht (1984)

Sixteen-year-old Elisabeth Haug grows up in Brandenburg an der Havel as the daughter of an East German official, in sheltered circumstances. Her father has been chairman of the District Council for 19 years, and one of her privileges is that he drives her to school in his official Volga. She also takes it for granted that a reprimand is removed on her father’s instructions. When he suddenly dies in an accident at the age of 54, she is torn from the orderly life she has known and begins to grapple with her depressed mother and question her life so far, as well as her image of her father and East Germany. Her school friend Stefan plays an important role, as does her brother Peter, who had distanced himself from their parents and with whom she gets back in touch. The event that gives the story its title is a rally held by East Germany’s youth organization, the Free German Youth (FDJ), in Berlin. FDJ members are required to attend, and Elisabeth takes part as well. On the S-Bahn ride back from visiting her brother, a drunk construction worker verbally attacks her because of her FDJ flag. Despite her own critical thoughts since her father’s death, she successfully stands up to his abuse and his attempt to throw the flag out of the train. Elisabeth makes it back to her class and catches the train home in time.