willyclassof66

I was only seven or eight years old when I watched this show on television, but it so influenced me at a young age that, later in life, I entered the seminary. Now at age 60 some of the scenes are still fresh in my memory. I clearly remember the beginning of each episode with the man walking down a path that was shaped like a cross.

I especially remember an episode with a priest being hung as if on a cross with his feet in ice and loud speakers constantly blaring in his ears "preach, talk, preach, talk". It made me realize that the life of the clergy can be riddled with bigotry and persecution.

Would that we could have shows like this on television today.

The suspicion of the Eastern Germany's Stasi and the depression inflicted on the creative intelligentsia is incredibly well-portrayed. Even though I remember the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and celebrating the joy of freedom and democracy, I had no real comprehension of the deceitfulness, suspicion, and depression that was so prevalent in Eastern Germany.

This movie presents and excellent portrayal of how the weak were forced to sacrifice their morals, but it also The sacrifice of morals by the weak, but it also showed redeeming qualities of even some of the most despicable members of the Stasi.

The unexpected ending of the movie is well worth the two hour and 15 minute wait.

Some of my fondest early memories was interacting with the Winky Dink Show on Saturday mornings at my grandmother's house. It's amazing how a plastic sheet the size of a TV screen, three crayons, and a cloth can be the creative tools of the first interactive TV show. But I believe my fond memories of helping Winky Dink through dangerous situations with my crayons and cloth will easily surpass the memories of today's kids with Nintendo, XBox, etc. The Winky Dink show is just one example of the clean, simple fun that makes the 50's so euphoric to those of us who were pre-teens during this time. The different between the good guys and the bad guys was clear cut. And even though Winky Dink was always getting into situations where we had to draw a bridge for him to cross a river, a tree to hide behind, etc., we were given the opportunity to be the hero with Winky Dink. I wish I still had my magic drawing screen so that I could draw the "white picket fence" of the 50's again.