Seebach's Black Cats

Bert Willer intends to surprise his son David. He has booked a trip to Teneriffa. Since his wife Lou unexpectedly died, father and son rely on each other. However, David has become increasingly withdrawn and Bert hopes the trip and the shared experiences will help them to get closer again. Shortly before leaving for their vacation, David finds files that are directly related to his father´s past. He conceives that his father was a member of the East-German Staatssicherheit (Stasi) with a distinctive mission: The files list several women whose lives Bert Willer tried to enter to obtain intimate information. David makes inquiries and confronts his father with the newly acquired knowledge. He does not realize that his father is haunted by the ghosts of his past anyway. Especially the memory of a woman named Bejla who was his lover for many years still disturbs him. Things get even more inscrutable when a couple, whose life is linked to theirs in a mysterious and disturbing way, shows up.

Kathrin Schmidt´s story features a puzzling family destiny – appearing almost criminalistic. With sensual and overbording realism, she shows where betrayal of trust might lead to. She vividly pictures the past´s powerful influence on a present life.