In October 1989, the part of the West Berlin borough of Kreuzberg called SO 36, had been largely shut off by the Wall from the rest of the city for 28 years. A lethargic sub-culture of students, artists, bohemians and barflys had flourished among crumbling buildings. Part of that microcosm is barkeeper Frank, semi-formally called 'Herr Lehmann' by friends and patrons. He hangs out drinking, sports utter disregard for anything beyond SO 36 and lazily pursues an affair with cook Katrin. His lifestyle is gradually disturbed, when his parents show up for a visit, things go awry with Katrin and his best friend Karl starts to act strange. Meanwhile, political turmoil mounts on the other side of the Wall.
The film treats hanging around as a way of life and takes its time with it. The tone stays dry and laconic, with comedy coming from bar talk, stubbornness and small embarrassments. Kreuzberg in autumn 1989 feels like its own slightly smoky microcosm, where big events arrive late.
Good for you if you like laconic German humor, bar atmosphere and stories about people who prefer not to move.
Written with AI, based on TMDb data.