The Man on the Other Side

A meek, bespectacled civil servant in her late 30s who works for the West German Federal Ministry of Defence in Bonn. She is drawn into espionage after Dieter manipulates her into stealing top-secret documents. Her loyalty is tested as she navigates love, fear, and the consequences of betraying state secrets.

A smooth-talking young salesman who seduces Sophie and pushes her toward espionage. He uses charm to recruit her into passing secrets, including the number of missiles. His motives are ambiguous, leaving him as both lover and catalyst for danger.

An MI6 agent imprisoned with Sophie, revealed to be the MI6 operative orchestrating some of the danger. He is cunning and resourceful, using the situation to uncover what Sophie knows. The dynamic shifts as the two clash over loyalties and escape.

A West German intelligence officer who coordinates the operation within Germany, working under constitutional limits that prohibit torture. He coordinates with MI6 to determine how much Sophie knows and what information she passed on.

A Stasi operative assigned to capture and question Sophie, representing East German security interests. He embodies the oppressive atmosphere of the border regime and the coercive approach of the era.

The second Stasi agent involved in the interrogation, reinforcing the East German security presence. He participates in the pursuit of information and control within the safe house scenario.

The Englishman's Russian girlfriend, whose presence adds a personal dimension to the spy drama and highlights cross-border romance under pressure. Her role tightens the web of loyalties and danger surrounding the men in the story.

A high-ranking West German official who presides over the interrogation of Sophie, representing the state's authority and the pressure of political duties in espionage cases.

A West German secretary navigating the bureaucratic maze surrounding defence ministry work, adding a civilian layer to the institutional setting.