Balloon

A determined mother who fears for her children but is driven by the possibility of a freer life in the West. Her insistence on continuing the escape plan, even as fear grows and medications are lost, shows her resilience and maternal courage. She embodies the personal cost of political oppression and the hope that sustains a family under pressure.

Doris’s husband and primary planner of the escape, balancing practicality with hope. He masterminds the balloon project and, after the initial failure, pushes for a second attempt while managing risk. His loyalty to his family under pressure reveals stubborn determination.

The other father who initially doubts another risky escape but eventually joins the second attempt. He contributes sewing and technical planning, working late at night to assemble the balloon. His cautious nature contrasts with the others’ urgency, highlighting different approaches to danger.

The teenage son who navigates love and loyalty while witnessing his family’s perilous plan. He preserves a farewell letter to Klara, underscoring the personal costs of the escape. His awareness of the Stasi’s reach adds emotional weight to the unfolding events.

A determined Stasi investigator who connects clues to the families and pursues them to prevent an embarrassing escape. He embodies the state’s focus on control and appearance, intensifying the pressure on everyone involved. His pursuit catalyzes the clockwork tension of the film.

Klara’s father, who works for the Stasi and becomes a suspicious figure as the plan unfolds. His professional role complicates personal relationships and raises the stakes of exposure. He illustrates how ordinary citizens can become instruments of state power.

Klara, Klara’s daughter, stands at the intersection of adolescent romance and political danger. Her relationship with Frank adds a personal layer to the escape drama, and her father’s Stasi ties intensify the risk for everyone involved. She personifies the human costs of a divided homeland.