Germany 2025
Opening December 11, 2025

Directed by: Wolfgang Becker, Achim von Borries
Writing credits: Constantin Lieb, Wolfgang Becker, Maxim Leo
Principal actors: Charly Hübner, Christiane Paul, Leon Ullrich, Leonie Benesch, Thorsten Merten

Micha Hartung (Charly Hübner) owns The Last Tycoon, a video shop in Berlin. He is surprised to see himself on the front cover of a magazine called FAKT. Berlin is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification. A journalist features Micha as having arranged for 127 people to flee East Berlin on the train, going straight through the Berlin train station, to arrive in the West five years before the wall actually falls. It’s true that he did work for transportation, but he had nothing to do with this event of people fleeing from the East to the West. However, his new girlfriend Paula (Christiane Paul) believes it and loves him more. So, why not say it’s true, since people are honoring him. Even the president of the German parliament invites him to speak. Eventually, his falsehoods come to light and he is arrested as an impostor. His daughter Natalie is supportive.

Der Held vom Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse is based on the book of the same title by Maxim Leo, published in 2022. The title translates to “The Hero of the Friedrich Street Train Station.” We experience an older Micha wearing a beard, but we also see him as a young man, played by Franz Gnauck. Politics are an important topic and the population feels obligated to participate in some way, especially considering that the Stasi still exists as Department of Public Security in East Berlin. Most interesting in Der Held vom Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse is the team of talented German actors who keep our attention as we learn about German “history.” Although fictitious, it could very well have happened. You decide if this is drama or comedy. (Becky T.)