Warten auf'n Bus

Ralf and Johannes, both lonely and uncertain, find solace in each other’s company at the bus stop where they spend most of their time. Their biggest thrill comes when Kathrin, the beautiful but disheveled bus driver, arrives. Each secretly dreams of winning her heart, though both doubt they could ever fit into her far more exciting world.

Ralf is haunted by panic attacks and sleepless nights brought on by long-term unemployment. Johannes, who knows what it feels like to hit rock bottom, tries to help him with advice from therapy and his own experience. Armed with Johannes’ “emergency kit,” the two friends take small but hopeful steps toward reclaiming their lives.

Trouble arrives at the bus stop when Ralf and Johannes are falsely accused of painting neo-Nazi graffiti. When they decide to clean it off themselves, a group of real neo-Nazis show up and attack them. The situation turns violent, but salvation arrives in the form of Kathrin, whose courage forces the thugs to back off.

Old rivalries resurface when Sergeant Britzke, a petty officer from Ralf and Johannes’ school days, demands they drop their complaint against the neo-Nazis. Claiming he only wants “peace and quiet” in Brandenburg, he destroys all the evidence and leaves the two friends questioning what justice really means.

One morning, a little girl appears at the bus stop, alone and frightened. Her exhausted single mother has fallen asleep on the bus. Ralf and Johannes try to care for her, but their dog Maiki suddenly turns defensive, standing guard over the child. It’s a touching and confusing moment for the men, who barely recognize their loyal pet.

Excitement stirs in Brandenburg when Johannes’ niece Meike arrives from Berlin to make a documentary about rural life. With her cameraman Jan in tow, she wants to explore socialism, the GDR, and local culture, but soon learns she has much to understand. Ralf and Johannes do their best to explain life in Brandenburg, breaking through stereotypes and bridging generations.