MDR to broadcast East German drama ‘Bürgschaft für ein Jahr’

MDR Fernsehen will broadcast the 1981 East German drama ‘Bürgschaft für ein Jahr’ (Guaranty for a Year) in October 2026. Directed by Herrmann Zschoche, the film stars Katrin Sass as Nina Kern.

The story follows Nina Kern, a single mother facing the potential loss of custody of her three children due to her unstable lifestyle and lack of steady employment following a divorce. To prevent the children from being placed in a home, Nina is assigned two guarantors to monitor her progress: a civil engineer named Mr. Müller and a music teacher named Frau Behrend. The film explores the social tensions and personal struggles Nina faces as she attempts to reform her life and take responsibility for her children.