Michael Herbig directed two of the most successful films in German history: Manitu’s Shoe and Dream Ship Surprise. The two comedies are based on sketches from his show Bullyparade. With Ballon, Herbig broke away from this type of film in 2018: He presented a solid thriller that grippingly tells a true story of escape from the GDR. Today on German Unity Day you can see Ballon on TV.
What is Ballon about and what makes the film so good?
Balloon takes place in 1979: At the center of the story are two families from the GDR: the Strelzyks and the Wetzels. Together they plan to cross the inner-German border in a self-made hot air balloon. The closer the day of the escape gets, the more nervous the individual members of the two families become.
Herbig uses the structure of a heist film for his approach: the families plan their escape like a bank robbery. Building the improvised balloon is the first stage, executing the escape is the second. The weather always thwarts their plans. This results in a wrenching tension that is only resolved at the very end.
What are the true background of Ballon?
Studio Channel
balloon
The escape of the Strelzyk and Wetzel families with a self-made hot air balloon is considered one of the most spectacular escape attempts from the former GDR. It happened on September 16, 1979. As Spiegel reported, Doris and Peter Strelzyk returned to their old house at home after the fall of the Wall. By the way, the story was filmed in 1982 in With the Wind to the West. Herbig fought for a long time for the rights to create his own version.
Day of German Unity: When and where is Ballon on TV?
ARD shows Ballon on Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. The repeat follows Wednesday night at 1:45 a.m. The film will then be available in the ARD media library.
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