Stilles Land (1992)

In the provinces of northern Germany in the autumn of 1989, in the crumbling GDR, the company of a small-town theater in Anklam is rehearsing the play Waiting for Godot. The young director Kai Finke arrives at the theater full of enthusiasm to stage the play, but encounters disillusioned actors. While some members of the theater leave for the West via the open Hungarian border, others try to reform the country and write a petition to Erich Honecker. The theater director, Walz, to whom the letter is entrusted, only finds the courage to send it once Egon Krenz comes to power and there is no longer any danger. Even after the fall of the Wall, the group cannot break out of the provinces. Only Claudia, the young assistant Kai has fallen in love with, heads west and returns with an actor from Hamburg, who promises the group he will make them big. Although his promised help quickly proves to be all hot air, the company performs with more motivation than ever, but without much success. Claudia leaves the theater for Hamburg, while Kai stays behind full of hope.