It takes a village to bring back a young Nazi into society. And even then we are never sure he will quite make it.

Centering around the 21 year-old Daniel, the film explores the causes and formations of right-wing extremism among youth. And it reveals how some people in Bernau, a small town to the north of Berlin, are dealing with it.
Daniel's story reveals the links between right-wing ideas, violence, and self-hatred. Thanks to his honesty and openness, it becomes understandable how youth can drift towards right-wing extremism. It also becomes clear how some humans find inner balance through exercising violence: "I just felt better after a brawl. Afterwards you feel like you're somebody after all."

Even though Saul does not turn into Paul, the story takes a turn for the better, largely due to the work of juvenile court judge Andreas Müller and social worker Rosemarie Kalas. The film illuminates their central role in Bernau, and casts light upon the reality of life in the small Brandenburg town.

The lives of Daniel, Andreas Müller, and Rosemarie Kalas reveal what a tremendous impact German history continues to have on individual biographies today. The East German period is present throughout the film - below the surface, in the choice of words, through reminiscences, and in the atmosphere within the scenes. The film's formal approach, the various levels of narration, interweaving, and patterns of repetition prevent the German subject matter from ever becoming heavy-handed.




International Selection Berlin '03, Bilbao
(comp.), Mexico '04.