An die Grenze

19yearold NVA soldier Alex Karow is sent to the West GermanEast German border in May 1974 shortly after Willy Brandts resignation and during the World Cup The army is dominated by brutal rituals tolerated or used by the officers Alex understands that the ideals of balance democracy and human dignity are propaganda The question of what happens when the other appears in the sights of the Kalashnikov occupies the soldiers day and night interrupted almost exclusively by the games of the World Cup with the historic encounter between the GDR and the FRG Alex draws strength from his love for Christine a confident tractor driver who lives in the neighbouring village Christine encourages him not to do what his father expects but to follow his dream of becoming a photographer But when her brother sends Alexs photo from the border fortifications to the West everything gets out of control