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In a Land That No Longer Exists

Feature Film GER 2023

East Berlin, 1988. Just before her final exams, 17-year-old Suzie is expelled from school and is forced to work in a factory. When a chance photo of her ends up on the cover of SIBYLLE, the ‘Vogue’ of the East, it thrusts her into the glamorous fashion world and gives her an opportunity to flee from socialist factory life.

Photo: Peter Hartwig

Aelrun Goette (writer, director): “In a land that no longer exists is a film based on true stories. It is a film about joie de vivre, a film of colliding extremes: longing and close spaces—socialism and elegance—freedom and treason. A story full of humor and passion with one question at its center: When put to decide between love, family, or friendship—which price are you willing to pay?”

East Berlin, 1988. Just before her final exams, 17-year-old Suzie is expelled from school and is forced to work in a factory. When a chance photo of her ends up on the cover of SIBYLLE, the 'Vogue' of the East, it thrusts her into the glamorous fashion world and gives her an opportunity to flee from socialist factory life. Suzie dives into the dazzling underground subculture where the homosexual Rudi and his friends invent and create their very own fantastic and passionate fashion designs. When she falls in love with the talented and rebellious photographer Coyote, her life ultimately changes. On his “Indian” motorbike, they speed towards the beach and Suzie lives the freedom she had always dreamed of. But while Suzie's star as a supermodel is on the rise, Coyote makes plans to flee to the West and Suzie is asked to betray her friends. Now Suzie must decide: what price is she willing to pay?

Official Website (German): tobis.de/titel/in-einem-land...

Production Details

Genre
Feature Film
Production
GER, 2023
Theatrical Release
6 October 2022
World Premiere
2 October 2022, Filmfest Hamburg
Director
Aelrun Goette
Cast
Marlene Burow, David Schütter, Sabin Tambrea, Claudia Michelsen, Jördis Triebel, Helene Grass, Sven-Eric Bechtolf, Bernd Hölscher a. o.
Cinematography
Benedict Neuenfels
Editor
Julia Karg
Screenplay
Sound
Marvin Hesse
Production Design
Silke Buhr
Costume Design
Regina Tiedeken
Executive Producers
Ziegler Film (Tanja Ziegler, Susa Kusche)
Coproduction
Tobis Film, Babelsberg Film, Gretchenfilm GmbH, RBB, arte, MDR, SWR, ARD Degeto
Funding
BKM, DFFF, Medienbord Berlin-Brandenburg, MfG, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung