Grill Point (2002)

A pair of couples in their late 30's experience life in the small German burg of Frankfurt-Oder (near the Polish border) while struggling to make ends meet in this character driven comedy drama from director Andreas Dresen. Caterer Uxe makes his meager living out of a small business located 'halfway up the stairs' as the viewers bear witness to his daily struggles via cast-improvised scenes and by interviews with the main characters inter-cut with the narrative. Meanwhile, a pair of running gags concerning depressed DJ 'Magic' Chris and a band named 17 Hippies serve to lighten the mood of this Mike Leigh-influenced effort that was shot on digital-video.