The Architects

This DEFA drama presents a somber portrait of life in East Berlin in the final days of the Communist regime. Shot from moving cars, panning shots of the city's ugly, factory-like public housing explore a joyless where people live in a state of chronic depression. Like many others of that generation, Daniel Brenner, an idealistic architect in his late 30s is frustrated by life under the old regime but somehow tolerates it. Hired to design a miniature city on the fringes of Berlin, he fools himself into thinking that he can counteract the prevailing gloom with a cheerier, more innovative approach. Working with a team of friends who were classmates in architecture school, he comes up with a design that incorporates rooftop gardens, modern sculptures, architectural variety and generous breathing space. His absorption in the project, however, costs him his high price.