Sunny (Renate Krößner) is an aspiring pop singer whose defiant nature clashes with the patriarchal conventions of socialist East German society, both on stage and in her personal life. Her winding journey toward going solo is set against the bohemian backdrop of East Berlin, steeped in the stylish milieu of the time, accompanied by a captivating soundtrack.

This stunningly authentic story resonated with millions of young viewers on both sides of the Berlin Wall, quickly gaining cult status. It made Krößner an overnight fashion icon and one of her generation’s most prominent actresses, earning her the Silver Bear at the 1980 Berlinale.

"Solo Sunny" is one of East Germany’s cinematic gems, a swan song of a brief cultural thaw in the GDR, and one of the last examples of DEFA’s women's films.

Eva Näripea