Jeri
Jacquin
Currently
available on DVD directed by Friedmann Fromm and MHz Choice is the stellar
series that pits two families against one another with THE WEISSENSEE SAGA:
Seasons 1-3.
It is
1980 East Berlin and two families couldn't be
more opposite. Martin Kupfer (Florian Lukas) is a police officer from a long
line of Stasi police. His father Hans (Uwe Kockisch) is a senior communist officer for
the Minister of State Security married to Marlene (Ruth Reinecke). Also in the
family security business is brother Falk (Jorg Hartmann) who also lives at
home with wife Vera (Anna Loos) and their son. It is a full household even when
Martin's young daughter Lisa visits.
During a
traffic stop, Martin meets Julia Hausmann (Hannah Herzsprung) and is
immediately struck by her. Deciding to follow her to work at the local
beauty shop, he convinces Julia to think about going out for coffee. Even when
she makes it clear that she is involved with her American boyfriend Robert
Schnyder (Steffen Groth), Martin can not seem to walk away.
Hans
learns about Martin's infatuation with Julia and immediately becomes nervous.
There is a history between Hans and Julia's mother, the well-known singer
Dunja Hausmann (Katrin Sab) has a tendency to sing songs that the Ministry
doesn't approve of. Falk also wants to throw himself into the mix while
working his way up the promotional ladder. Knowing that his father and the
superior of the Ministry Gaucke (Hansjurgen Hurrig) don't see eye to eye,
Falk uses that fact to try to break up Martin and Julia.
The
Kupfer family is beside themselves when Martin chooses Julia over the family.
Trying to find housing turns out to be as difficult as their relationship.
When Martin's daughter Lisa is missing, Falk is blamed which continues to flame
his anger at brother Martin. Dunja has decided to record songs that are to
be smuggled into the West, when her friend Meigold (Max Gertsch) is arrested
for it, Hans does what he can to protect his former flame. Once again Falk
is angry seeing both Julia and Dunja as a way to rise in the ranks by taking
the women down. It turns badly when Dunja changes his plan leaving Falk to
have to explain the incident to his superiors.
Trying to
cover his tracks, changes in the department are made when Falk is moved up and
Hans is sent to be a lecturer at Stasi
Academy
After a
time they find a place and Julia discovers she is pregnant. Beside himself
with happiness, Martin is surprised when his father Hans helps the couple
get permits for an apartment and things they need to make a proper home for the
new baby.
When
Dunja finally comes home, it is to a secret that she agrees to be a Stasi
informer knowing that her apartment is also bugged. Turning her friends
away at the door, Dunja believes it is the only way for them to stay safe.
Julia wants to talk to a West German journalist about the treatment of her
mother. Martin isn't thrilled about it but stands by Julia in what turns out to
be a fate worse than the couple could ever have imagined.
Five
years has passed since Julia went to prison for the charge of treason and the
baby does not survive. Martin doesn't serve any time because of family
connections but it doesn't mean he is not waiting every moment for Julia's
return. No longer a policeman, Martin has taken a job in a factory and
doesn't speak to the family - especially Falk who he blames completely.
Dunja
isn't under the watchful eye of Falk much either and the Kupfer family doesn't have
much time for keeping an eye on her either as Vera and Falk's son Roman
(Ferdinand Lehmann) becomes gravely ill. Hans believes because Roman is
a gymnast that the coaches used doping which led to his grandson's
illness. Falk refuses to believe it but Roman needs a kidney and makes
a promise to Martin if he helps.
Returning
home, Julia isn't sure how to handle her life. Turning away from Martin seemed
the smartest thing but she knows that isn't possible and the two come
together again. Vera and Falk also are working through marital problems as Vera
wants to walk away from it all. Going to church to find solace, Vera meets
Robert Wolff (Ronald Zehrfeld) and discovers that Cross Church
Wolff's
sister Nicole (Claudia Mehnert) becomes great friends with Vera but it is only
a matter of time before Falk discovers what is happening. What they don't
know yet is that Falk is well aware of what is going on and uses a child to try
and keep his family together - a little girl named Sonja.
Martin's
friend Gorlitz
(Stephan Grossmann) offers up his house for the couple to live in and once
again father Hans helps with what ever is necessary. Now that Julia has
time to think, she becomes aware that it's possible that their child might be
alive. She tells Martin they must look at every chance that their child
could be out there somewhere and begin with Dr. Maiwald (Silke Matthias) who
delivered their daughter Anna and the doctor who pronounced the child
deceased Dr. Schmolke (Joachim Assbock).
Falk is
also on their trail and after a confrontation, everything is about to change as
(**SPOILER ALERT**) Martin's life no longer includes Julia. Dunja falls into
the bottled and won't let Hans console her. Both Hans and Falk attempt to
change their lives in extremely different ways but Martin remains distant
from them all. Knowing the only way to stop Vera is by arresting Wolff, she
isn't moved by his attempt to keep her by arresting friends, taking in a
child or anything else.
Even more
disturbing is that Hans finally has proof of what Falk has been up to and makes
a deal with him to set things right. Also shocking in the ranks is that
General Honecker dismisses Gaucke when he has a melt down and puts Falk in his
place.
It is
1989 and what Falk has feared most is beginning to happen, the fall of the Iron
Curtain! He should fear his father and brother more and now that mother
Marlene is away of what is happening, decisions have to be made. Martin is
beginning to piece together what happened to Julia and Anna and who is
responsible. Also, Falk once again tries to strong-arm Robert Wolff because
Vera has gone on with her life living with the pastor and his sister. What
he doesn't see is photographer Katja Wiese (Lisa Wagner) up on a roof taking
photos of an event she doesn't quite understand.
For the
first time in his life, Martin takes a walk into West Germany after he finds Katja's
wallet. Discovering that he once again has feelings for someone, he is
still careful about the things he says and does. Such is the life he has been
leading in East Berlin . Yet there is a
freedom being with Katja who makes it clear that she wants to help Martin find
the answers about Anna. It also comes as a shock when Martin sees the
photographs on her wall.
With the
fall of the Iron Curtain, Falk is struggling to keep using the tactics that
have always worked for him. The problem is that there is nothing he can do
to stop the changes that are coming, those who are making sure it happens, and
family members who will do what ever is necessary to find the answers
about the missing person in their family.
Kockisch
as the head of the Kupfer clan is clearly not like the others he serves with.
From the very beginning his decisions are based on letting people have the
freedoms without the consequences that the treatment prisons provide bring. His
heart is torn between the past and the family he is trying to keep
together. When Martin falls for Julia, as much as he doesn't want his son to
have pain, Hans wants his son to never have the same regrets.
Lukas as
Martin is a gentle soul who knows that the system of justice can work against
good people. Meeting Julia, he doesn’t much care about the rules nor does he
believe his family need interfere with his happiness. When that all changes, he
isn’t about to let it all go as his love for Julia is unstoppable. I loved
Lukas’ performance and mainly because he is a fighter of another kind. He takes
it all in and tries to make the right decision, especially when his family is
involved.
Herzsprung
as Julia Hausmann is so lovely. She comes from her own dysfunctional family
which means she and Martin have something in common from the start. Attempting
to fight off her feelings, Martin doesn’t give up even when it seems their
families will do anything to stop it. Herzsprung brings strength of spirit to
her character.
Sass as
Dunja Hausmann spent her life in music, a tad self-absorbed she tends to not
pay attention to Julia. When she does, it is because Julia has fallen for the
son of a former lover and knows the pain it is going to cause. Being from the
“wrong side of the fence” caused her nothing but grief. Sass is an amazing
character none the less her growth is intense. Reinecke as Marlene is a woman
clearly aware that her husband harbors feelings for the one person she resents
being in their lives. Even so, Marlene is a woman who will not let anyone
disrupt the family she has struggled to keep together. Loss as Vera is a woman
trapped in abuse and fear from a husband that doesn’t care about anything other
than ruling with an iron fist – literally. Loss takes this character and gives
her strength.
The
winner for bad guy done awesomely is Hartmann as Falk. THIS guy looks like the
guy next door with his charming attitude and boyish face but don’t let it fool
you. He is devious, dastardly, caring only when it suits him and uses every
opportunity to take someone down who Falk feels has wronged him – even if it’s
his own family. It stunned me episode after episode what this character was
capable of and Hartmann makes evil look easy. Well done!
MHz Choice offers U.S. viewers streaming access to
MHz Networks’ expanding library of the best international television mysteries,
dramas, comedies and documentaries subtitled in English. MHz Choice delivers a
high quality experience to a growing list of subscribers who watch online with
iPhone, Apple TV, Android, Roku and Amazing Channels! For more of what they
have to offer for viewing please visit www.mhzchoice.com.
THE WEISSENSEE SAGA: Seasons 1-3 is a limited series that is
absolutely amazing. During an era most of us know nothing about, the storyline
gives an inside look at a life restricted by government and ruled by iron will
behind the Iron Curtain. In the midst of it all are people who were willing to
find ways to find love and freedom.
These characters bring much to the story and the ensemble
cast is completely perfect in every way. The writers, Friedemann Fromm, Annette
Hess, Tim Krause and Clemens Murath should be given every bit of credit for
creating a saga that is stunning. Just when I thought I had things figured out,
a twist would come that either had me cheering, dropping my jaw or throwing
something – and usually caused by Falk.
This is a marathon spending time enjoying. The series is in
German with English subtitles and all three seasons are available on DVD which
means you don’t have to wait!
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