Thomas Putensen

The Oppen family has lived in Berlin, Griesener Straße, for generations. The first names of the family members are also repeated, so the grandson Jan has the same first name as his grandfather. The Oppens' husbands have maintained a tradition up to now: they were or are all carpenters. But the latter does not yet fall on fertile ground with 16-year-old Jan, whose passion is the moped, his "machine". Of course, he is a newcomer among the motorcycle fans around the black Jonny, but he loves to be in their company to experience adventures, and of course he wants to be able to "keep up" with them. Jan has already developed a strategy for how he can do this.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Cosima Richter's East Berlin apartment building is to be renovated. Cosima is furious about the project and visits the landlord to dissuade him from his plans, but she is shocked when she comes face to face with a homeless alcoholic. Her plan is in danger of failing unless she can turn the bum into a decent person.

Twenty-year-old electronics technician Liane, desperate to escape her broken home, resists a demotion at work and falls for research student Jürgen. Fiercely defending colleague Kalle against unfair accusations, she overshadows her own troubles, including an unplanned pregnancy. When Jürgen betrays her, Liane collapses, and she wonders if a new beginning with steadfast Kalle is possible.

A renowned actor named Otto is the epitome of the problematic but beloved ladies man. Even when drunk he still knows more about filmmaking than does the amateur who is directing him in his latest movie. But what should the unreliable star do when a local actor joins the crew as his understudy? Comic situations arise not only because of the well-known environment, but also from an inclination to authentically capture the various relationships.

On a school trip, Daniel discovers a cave that sparks his vivid imagination: he wonders if there are dragons that live in caves like this?

Two years ago, cinema poster painter Jonathan had agreed in his divorce to leave the sole custody for his son David to David′s mother Ruth. But at the boy′s ninth birthday, Jonathan all of a sudden returns to their house. In the meantime, Ruth has found a new Partner, Franz, whom David has accepted as his surrogate father. Although everybody tries to solve the new situation with a lot of tolerance, Franz and Jonathan become rivals. But this rivalry comes to an end when David has an accident. Now, the boy is allowed to visit his father Jonathan on the weekend whenever he wants to. But before that, David goes on one last adventure: On a trip to a vacation camp, Jonathan "kidnaps" his son to spend several days hitchhiking alone with his son. Then, he gets him back to the vacation camp.

Even the military academy can't stop kind-hearted officer Gottfried Engelhardt from seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. Everything in the young GDR is blooming: Engelhardt's career, the socialist state, the black market, and maybe even a chance at love.