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In 1978, in East Germany, two families, the Strelzyks and the Wetzels, make plans to escape the Communist East and flee to the West. Peter Strelzyk comes up with a daring idea to construct a homemade air balloon big enough to carry the two families across the East-West militarized border. The border between East and West Germany is heavily militarized, complete with watch towers, guard dogs, barbed-wire, alarms, sensors, search lights, and patrols. Rumors have it that some areas of the militarized border are mined. The only chance of crossing the border is by air. The Strelzyks and the Wetzels commence their risky venture by purchasing lots of taffeta fabric and sewing it together with a sewing machine in the attic. Peter Strelzyk builds an experimental homemade hot air balloon burner. In 1979 when the balloon is ready Peter and his son test it, but the Wetzel family becomes hesitant. The Strelzyks decide to go alone, but bad weather causes the balloon to crash inside the Communist zone. The Strelzyks leave the crash area, but the incriminating evidence litters the ground. They wonder if they will be able to evade the ensuing Police investigation and whether they will be able to build another balloon for their next attempt. They also are determined to persuade the Wetzel family to maybe join them in their second try. That is, if the East German Communist secret Police, the Stasi, wont get to them first.
John Hurt
Peter Strelzyk
Jane Alexander
Doris Strelzyk
Doug McKeon
Frank Strelzyk
Keith McKeon
Fitscher Strelzyk
Beau Bridges
Günter Wetzel
Glynnis O'Connor
Petra Wetzel
Geoffrey Liesik
'Little' Peter Wetzel
Michael Liesik
Andreas Wetzel
Ian Bannen
Josef Keller
Anne Stallybrass
Magda Keller
Matthew Taylor
Lukas Keller
Klaus Löwitsch
Schmolk
Günter Meisner
Major Koerner
Sky du Mont
Ziegler
Jan Niklas
Lt. Fehler
Kay Walsh
Doris' Mother
Carola Höhn
Petra's Mother
Irene Prador
Mrs. Roseler
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