Jessica Ashburn made it to New York’s Wall Street in her late 20s. From the outside, the attractive broker has her life perfectly under control. But her tireless efforts have a reason that few people know: She is taking care of her younger brother Steve. The comic illustrator depends on regular blood donations, which are very difficult to find because of his extremely rare blood type. Fortunately, there is an immigrant in the metropolis of New York, Alejandro, in his mid-30s, who, like Steve, is a carrier for the “Bombay blood group” and happily accepts the donations as one of his motley earnings, which bring a few dollars, a sandwich and a coffee.
But Alejandro has come to the attention of immigration authorities and is to be deported. Jessica sees only one way out to keep Alejandro in the country: She proposes to him to save her brother! Alejandro is speechless: the survival artist with a questionable resume and this tough lady from Wall Street? But he likes adventure and of course wants to move into the Ashburn siblings’ nice house right away. An idea that also takes a lot of getting used to for Jessica’s fiancé and boss Paul Heiser. The immigration office remains suspicious, investigates Jessica’s environment. The newlyweds prepare for a tough ordeal at the hands of the authorities.
To remain credible, the legend, the fictitious shared love story, must be true. Alejandro has to learn everything, every detail. And he learns quickly. Also that Jessica fears nothing more than not having something under control. Alejandro, however, doesn’t let that happen to him and skillfully fights back against the drill.
But the siblings also get to know his other sides. Steve finds in him a friend who takes him into the life out there. Together they wander through the parks, smoke weed and whistle at the package inserts of the drugs. Jessica realizes that Alejandro is not irresponsible, but alive. She begins to change, which is a thorn in the side of her fiancé, Paul. Jessica and Alejandro have just barely passed the immigration exam when she receives an anonymous tip. Alejandro’s deportation can no longer be averted – a disaster not only for Steve, but also for Jessica, because Alejandro has long since stolen her heart….
Feelgood movies from the East Coast of the USA: Substantive themes told in an entertaining way, interesting modern characters, moving stories that show urban life in the big city as well as rural places of longing on the coast: that is what makes “Katie Fforde” as a series. “Katie Fforde: A Love in New York” is the 16th film in the Sunday movie series, which has been running successfully on ZDF since 2010. “Katie Fforde” is produced by Network Movie Hamburg, Jutta Lieck-Klenke, Sabine Jaspers. Junior producer: Jenny Maruhn. Verena von Heereman is the editor at ZDF.