Synopsis
Paradise does have its downsides. Unlike the biblical Christians who want to enlighten him, Brian, an asylum seeker from Cameroon, has hopes for this life – and that’s clearly situated in Germany. Unfortunately he has ended up in Bad Belzig in Brandenburg, where there’s little excitement except for an amateur belly dance group and a marching band. He has no 'useful' country of origin to show for – right now there’s no war in Cameroon, only a lack of opportunity. The Yemenite soldier Abdul, who would rather carry arms in civilian life and work in security, is in a similar situation. Farid from Iran for his part can’t go back for political reasons and can't bring his family over without residence status.Three open-ended fates which the two directors accompany with their usual thoroughness over the course of a year in their fourth film together as they attempt to understand the wordings of the employment agency and the red tape jungle, and to find a German wife, if need be. Preferably one who doesn't just guarantee a right of residence but also knows how to cook. Bad Belzig turns out to be a stroke of luck for the film, since the East German province shows a lot of comic potential in its touching attempts to help the foreigners. The intercultural misunderstandings in particular highlight our German 'paradise', which is founded solely on paper. (DOKLeipzig, Cornelia Klauß)