Spuk im Hochhaus

this television series, produced in 1982 by state-owned studio defa, implies a weird allegory: the main characters are an undead couple, who 200 years ago ran a tavern on the very spot, where there's now a worker's living quarter, one of those typical concrete-block-buildings. to make up for their lifetime's fraudulent business-keeping the two have to do seven good deeds, leading the inhabitants back on the right track, supporting the community of the building in some way, etc. hiding behind walls, in kitchen sinks, taking cover behind plants and in cupboards, the two ghosts furtively watch people in their apartments. they notice how two wild kid-brothers get on the nerves of their single-mom and scare them into obedience. they lock two quarreling neighbors in the elevator, by this intervention forcing them to bury the hatchet. they produce a water-leakage to remind an overambitious plumber, that he has a family to attend to. by telling these stories in a light and humorous way, the series establishes sympathy for the "friendly spirits", who improve life in the house by their system of surveillance, "discipline and punishment". it's hard not to read these stories, that were originally intended for a young audience, as an allegory on the operations of the state security (stasi), who were also constantly keeping a watch out for conspicuous, possibly subversive activities in people's private- or business-life.