Manfred Krug (1937-2016): Actor, maverick and rebel. Hardly any other artist had such a lasting impact on the culture of the GDR. Born in Duisburg, he became a DEFA star in the 1960s and 70s. With films such as "Spur der Steine " (Trail of Stones ) - which was promptly banned due to its system-critical tone and achieved cult status - he shaped an entire generation. At the same time, he thrilled audiences as a singer with his distinctive voice and self-written jazz and chanson lyrics.

Krug was never the type to remain silent: in 1976, he publicly sided with Wolf Biermann - a decision that abruptly ended his career in the GDR. Reprisals followed and he finally applied to leave the country. He records the turbulent 32 days leading up to approval in a diary, which is published in 1996 as "Abgehauen". After moving to West Germany, Krug celebrates an impressive comeback: series such as "Liebling Kreuzberg", "Auf Achse" and "Tatort" finally make him a darling of the German public.