Nový život – Fuchs Katharina (2022)

Two women – two life dreams and the challenging 1950s in divided Berlin. Katharina Fuchs authentically and engagingly recounts the true stories of two strong women: her aunt, who became one of the first female judges in Germany's history, and her mother, a fashion designer working in West Berlin. Against the backdrop of this impressive narrative, she also describes the difficult fates of families torn apart by war and the subsequent division of Germany. Therese, as the daughter of a Wehrmacht officer, is denied the opportunity to study at university in the GDR, prompting her to move to West Berlin. There, she witnesses how the growing differences between East and West begin to divide her family as well. Her studies are not smooth either – conservative professors and classmates make it significantly harder for Therese and her only female classmate. It seems that her sister-in-law Gisela understands Therese – she too would like to break free from her socially expected role. Although Therese's brother is considered a 'good match' for the seamstress from humble beginnings, the role of a housewife is certainly not enough for her. Gisela's dream is to design her own patterns in the newly emerging fashion hub.