Sweep it up, again

Directly after the elections in March 1990 Gerd Kroske filmed in the streets of Leipzig for the second time. His road sweepers swept away what wasn't needed any longer: posters, flags, cigarette butt. The film Sweep it up contained impressive images of the apocalyptical atmosphere in the GDR. Twice the film-maker returned to those men and women who had allowed him intimate views into their lives between casual work, jail and pub. 1996, in Sweep it up, Swig it down none of them still worked for the Leipzig department of city cleaning. And in 2006 too, in the third film Sweep it up, again, their daily lives take place between homes and social security office. Stefan and Marlen are dead. Henry and Marion get by. The grandchildren live with foster carers and sometimes things get worse than one believed possible to bear. Sweep it up, again is a milieu study that has not fallen into the trap of cheap images and sentimentality: it is precise, sober, without commentary - but full of sympathy with the protagonists.