Trading Happiness

Mr. Nguyễn came to Germany from Vietnam with his family in the 1980s. After reunification, his wife returned and he stayed behind with his young son. Since then, he has run a fruit and vegetable store, where the somewhat gruff Harry now works as a temp.

In the beautiful Vietnamese bay of Ha Long, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a family faces its imminent separation when the government decides to relocate the inhabitants of the floating village to land.

Juggling a never-ending barrage of responsibilities, parents and business owners Maik and Linh are occupied with money worries and their marriage is at the bottom of their to-do list. As Linh reveals the true extent of their shocking fi nancial situation, they both take on second jobs. Inevitably, the stress of the situation further damages their marriage and old confl icts start to resurface. In a fi nal bid to save them, Maik decides with a heavy heart to sell their business. But just as they’re about to lose everything they’ve worked for, will a close friend be their salvation ?

Six friends from different ethnic backgrounds search for their way into adulthood in Berlin between traditions, their parental homes and everyday life in Germany. In six episodes, the series tells the inspiring stories of a group of friends who grew up in Berlin in second generation. Coumba, Ani, Zehra, Jamila, Mo and Nikki are in their early 20s and deal with a variety of questions: How can I help my parents when they visit the authorities? Is my origin the only reason why my partner is interested in me? As a daughter of a conservative, traditional family, how can I tell them that I love women? Do I have to go to university in order to make my family proud? Who am I really, and who do I want to be? Together, they struggle to find their place in society while pursuing their own dreams, reflecting on their identity and confronting the profound questions of life.

Yen was born in Germany, her parents in Vietnam. Being different is not a foreign feeling for many Vietnamese-Germans. Since studying in Norway, Yen understands how hard it is to build a new life in a foreign country with a different language. She learns to classify her identity, fears and, above all, her strengths.

In Huy Nguyen’s family, there are many things that are left unsaid. Why is the story of his parents’ migration hardly mentioned, even though it has had a profound impact on different generations? Why is the relationship between parents and children so complicated? Is there a common story? And where does each person’s individual identity take shape? To find the answer, Huy sought out his grandparents in Vietnam. There, he recorded their daily activities, meals, and conversations. By building a close relationship with his grandparents, he also tried to understand and be closer to his parents.

Many Vietnamese people came to Germany as contract workers in 1987, hoping to build a new life. One of them was Ms. Nguyen Thi Le. On her 60th birthday, she recalled her first days in Germany, a time marked by loneliness, homesickness, but also full of hope.