Two contrasting heroines are at the heart of the action-packed series “Firefighters”: Nadja Becker as a brave but inexperienced group leader and Katja Danowski as a tough new recruit must first learn in the pilot film “Phoenix from the Ashes” that they are stronger together than alone. The modern television film delves into a traditional male domain that has only slowly been changing in the last few years. Even today, only around ten percent of the approximately 100,000 volunteer firefighters are female. Director Martin Busker plays with role models in a humorous way and relies on a realistic staging of this demanding work, which requires the utmost commitment in dramatic moments.
Anja is a firefighter with great enthusiasm and ambition. She is conscientious and reliable. However, she finds it difficult to make decisions. This only becomes apparent when she takes over the interim management of the local volunteer fire department due to an emergency – something that not everyone agrees with. Especially Meike, who is a new member of the force. Meike is a former soldier who was stationed in Afghanistan. While Anja is still thinking about what to do next, Meike has already put out the fire. Meike recognizes Anja’s deficit at first glance and makes Anja clearly aware of her disdain. And yet an unexpected relationship of trust develops between the two women – until Anja makes a serious mistake…
Another film by the “firefighters” will be shown on Das Erste on September 20th: “Heim gesucht”.
