The Valley

German film and TV production has accustomed us to top-notch historical dramas for the past 25 years. The Germans really know how to create a true sense of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s of the Cold War. Especially when it comes to the STASI and the RAF.

This series does not belong to the aforementioned group of top-notch German productions. Deeply at odds with historical facts, it gives a false picture of the time. Savings at every turn, poor costumes at the level of a high school play, a hagiographic approach.

Avoid at all costs and watch Deutschland 83, as a recipe for making a quality fairy tale with a Cold War background.

The story seems not to be inspired by historical events, but by an unpublished novel by deceased Austrian colportage writer Johannes Mario Simmel. Fun fact: The credits favourably compare to Lawrence of Arabia and Ben Hur. There is no intention to come just a minor step closer to the mystery the assassination of Alfred Herrhausen represents until today. It's all speculation, invention and the obvious exploitation of the rare facts available: There was a bomb, that killed Alfred Herrhausen, there were terrorists, who were suspects, But nobody was accused, nobody was convicted, nobody went to jail. So it's just an exploitation series, that tries to make the most out of a tragic story, and truth - whatever that might be - left behind, for the sake of a juicy story. This is just an exploitation series, that is not the least interested in the feelings of family, friends and former colleagues and the historical truth, that one day might hopefully be uncovered.