Der Fall Barschel (2015)

Within a few months, the steep career of top politician Uwe Barschel ended with his steep fall. After a plane crash, which he survived with serious injuries, the incumbent Prime Minister unexpectedly lost ground in the Schleswig-Holstein election campaign. Shortly before the vote, he came under additional pressure: According to a news magazine, he is said to have spied on his increasingly popular competitor Björn Engholm and started a unique smear campaign against him with the support of his sleazy media representative Pfeiffer. The unpopular Barschel publicly denies all allegations on his word of honor, but the up-and-coming reporters David Burger and Olaf Nissen uncover a lie in his affidavits. The Prime Minister then had to resign and the newspaper celebrated wildly. When Barschel was found dead in the bathtub of a Geneva hotel, the affair took on a new dimension. Although the investigators assume it was suicide, Barschel's family say it was murder. Teams of reporters have travelled from Germany to search for their story on site. While they are spying on each other, David meets the seductive photographer Giselle from the magazine "Quick".For David Burger, the Barschel case has long since become an obsession. Even years after his death, the journalist follows every clue to prove the murder theory. A newly evaluated lead suggests that Uwe Barschel was poisoned in Geneva. David also finds an explanation for the motive: Stasi documents suggest politically explosive involvement in illegal arms deals that were secretly conducted via the GDR. Although his boss Walter is amazed by the daring theories, he gives him another chance. But at the meeting with the senior public prosecutor, who is blocking investigations, Burger is not in control. Later, he even knocks down his former partner Olaf, now his direct superior, in an argument. At home, too, his life is completely out of control: he is severely addicted to amphetamines and is now only a shadow of his former self. David feels like he is being watched and followed everywhere, and he even increasingly distrusts his lover Giselle. Is there a BND agent behind the seductive photographer? Despite all his doubts, he can't let go of her. He can no longer expect any help with his research from Olaf, who is always well informed and who persistently defends the official version of suicide. On the contrary: In David's opinion, Olaf has long been working for the other side.