Südstadt

A house, three apartments, three couples in Cologne. In Matti Geschonneck’s TV movie of the week with a prominent cast, everything revolves around neighbors who have to put their relationships and life concepts to the test. Anne (Anke Engelke) and Martin (Matthias Matschke), Saskia (Bettina Lamprecht) and Kai (Alexander Hörbe), and Eva (Andrea Sawatzki), who is freshly in love with Thomas (Dominic Raacke). Manfred Zapatka, Pierre Besson, Dietrich Hollinderbäumer, Julia Stemberger and others can be seen in other roles.

Content: Anne (Anke Engelke) and Martin Lehmann (Matthias Matschke) have been married for 20 years. However, the marriage has recently fallen into disarray: Anne has an affair with her colleague Wolf (Pierre Besson). Martin conceals from her that he lost his job months ago and has been unemployed ever since. Does the relationship still have a chance despite emerging existential fears and a growing mutual distrust? Their friends Saskia (Bettina Lamprecht) and Kai Fröhlich (Alexander Hörbe) live in the same house with their little daughter. When Saskia decides to go back to work, her husband has to take on the role of family manager in addition to his job as a television journalist. While Saskia blossoms professionally and enjoys this success, he comes under increasing pressure. What is to become of his career now? Will he have to cut back on his career for the sake of his family? Emergency doctor Eva Simon (Andrea Sawatzki), also a good friend of the two couples, lives in the attic. She is freshly in love with Thomas (Dominic Raacke). He has just separated from his wife (Julia Stemberger), who has stayed behind with daughter Greta (Emma Drogunova) in the house they share. When he moves in with Eva, their relationship has to prove itself, because Thomas brings with him not only his moving boxes, but also his past.

Südstadt” was produced by Network Movie, Cologne (producers: Wolfgang Cimera, Silke Pützer). The editors responsible at ZDF are Reinhold Elschot and Stefanie von Heydwolff. Filming took place in Cologne in spring 2017.

Cover photo © Network Movie/Mathias Bothor

Still photos © ZDF /Martin Valentin Menke