gestern, heute, übermorgen

The air is humid, it is loud and expensive. But thousands come to the tropical paradise in the middle of Brandenburg every day. The “Tropical Islands” in a gigantic self-supporting hall near the Berlin-Dresden motorway welcomes its often well-traveled guests around the clock. While some immerse themselves in this very unique world of illusions for one or more days, others spend their everyday life here. Steffen, 32, works as a gardener at “Tropical Islands” and is therefore responsible for the covered rainforest. He gives tours for school classes and waters the tropical plants. But what is his life like outside of his work in the artificial leisure paradise? Steffen lives in a small village in Dahme-Spreewald, he has a good buddy named Micha, his dog Samanta and a big dream: He wants to undo the past of his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Bettina Blümner paints an intimate and haunting portrait of someone who goes on a little “world tour” every day and is torn between family tradition, his past and his future.