This TV movie focuses on an average East German citizen who accidentally becomes a Cold War victim Shortly before his wedding day East German Stephan Busemann goes to West Germany to attend his brother Huberts fiftieth birthday At the same time his son Martin and his daughterinlaw Bettina flee their communist home country in a balloon what Stephan didnt know As the East Germans believe he helped them to escape he isnt allowed to return so Martin writes a letter to the countrys leader Erich Honecker However now the West Germans think that Stephan is a spy