The Mistake

Set during the final months of communism in East Germany, Heiner Carow's 1991 drama revolves around Jacob (Gottfried John), who while visiting from West Germany meets Elisabeth (Angelica Domröse), the maid/personal assistant for a small town mayor. The pair—both widowed and suffering in emotional isolation—fall in love, but Elisabeth's employer also has his eye on her and makes his feelings known during the least romantic moment imaginable—a biological weapons drill. After Jacob and Elisabeth fashion a plan to rendezvous secretly in East Berlin, their liaison is reported to the Stasi (East Germany's secret police), resulting in Jacob's deportation. It doesn't require much detective work for Elisabeth to figure out who threw the wrench in her romance, which spurs her to work out her own revenge. While Carow breaks little new ground in detailing the repressive culture of East German society, The Mistake is an emotionally satisfying drama overall, with John and Domröse bringing great depth to their roles. DVD extras include a text interview with Carow, along with biographies and filmographies. Recommended. (P. Hall)