The American (4/6)

The American (4/6)

Lisa, who is now 17-years old, is hoping that a photo shoot for a West German fashion magazine will be the opportunity she needs to launch a modeling career in Paris. Martin, who must sign the contract for his underage daughter, is less enthusiastic about the idea. Falk continues to take a strong stance against political opponents and finds some support with this attitude amongst the officers of the MfS. While Vera tries to deal with Robert's death, Nicole still refuses to believe that her brother committed suicide. She is convinced that the Stasi are behind his death. Meanwhile, Martin has plucked up the courage to go to the Simkow house in West Berlin, but they are not at home. A note on the door tells him that the family have gone skating. He and Katja immediately set off after them. When he sees Anna fall on the ice, Martin rushes to help her. As a thank you, Anna's foster parents invite Martin and Katja to dinner at their home. Martin is skeptical. Meanwhile, a no-holds-barred article on Dunja appears in a Western newspaper revealing her past as a Stasi informer. Hans realizes that Falk must have photocopied important Stasi files before they were destroyed as this is the only way the newspaper could have gotten its hands on the information. Martin accuses Katja of having written the article and she is deeply hurt. She then tries to find out who actually wrote the article. In her efforts, she raises quite a bit of dust and is contacted by the American secret service. At a secret meeting, the American, Robert Schnyder offers Katja a deal which she accepts: the photo of Rothals and Robert Wolff for the information that Falk Kupfer was the one who leaked Dunja Hausmann's file to the press. In addition, Katja learns that Falk has placed a mole in the Democratic Forum. When Martin tells Vera and Nicole about this they cannot believe it.

Taking its name from the locality in the then divided city that houses the notorious Stasi secret police-run Hohenschönhausen prison, the series tells of young police officer Martin, from a loyal Party family, who falls in love with the beautiful young and rebellious Julia, from a family of dissidents: a Romeo & Juliet saga of two lovers struggling against prejudices and the social and political odds.

Grimme Award 2016
German Screen Actors Award 2014
German TV Award 2011 for Best Series
Nominated for Prix Europa 2011  
The first 6 episodes to be screened at Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) New York in April 2011.

PRESS REVIEWS

• Family saga Weissensee recounts what life in East Germany was like, in a DALLAS style. (Der Spiegel, Sept. 13, 2010)
  
• Weissensee (...) is simply a well-made drama, which profits from a tight story arc, a superb cast and terrific set design. (Süddeutsche Zeitung, Sept. 14, 2010)
  
• Behind the surface story of two families in 1980s Socialist East Germany - replete with romance, intrigue and betrayal - a piece of real life emerges: authentic, dramatic. (Welt Online, Sept. 14, 2010)
  
• A courageous effort - which pays off handsomely. Beneath the soap opera plot, a complex web of desires and wishes emerges, of self-deception and patronizing. (Spiegel Online, Sept. 14, 2010)
  
• A highly original TV series. (Leipziger Volkszeitung, Sept. 6, 2010)
  
• Germany's biggest newspaper BILD headlined "The most spectacular TV series of the year." (Sept. 11, 2010)