Your Presence Is Imperative

Story

16-year old Elisabeth, daughter of a leading GDR functionary, grows up in sheltered surroundings. She has no social or financial worries and is taken to school every day in her Dad’s official Volga. The sudden death of her father shocks Elisabeth and gives her the feeling of being abandoned. She seeks contact with her elder brother Peter, who was critical of their father and had distanced himself from the family. Slowly, Elisabeth begins to see life and her view of her father differently. This credible portrait of young people was officially accused of being “resigned melancholy” and only just avoided being banned by the GDR censors.

Director

Helmut Dziuba (1933-2012) made a name for himself in the GDR as a director of children's and youth films. He specialized in filming popular works of GDR children's books.