Paul Fährmann

… has been living with his grandmother Liese for the past two years. He is a rather quiet person, and he is very observant. Thanks to his resourcefulness, Paul knows how to make himself useful and has found ways to help his grandmother deal with everyday life in the GDR.

– likes to play agent and spies
– curious/inquisitive
– great imagination
– reserved in unfamiliar surroundings
– very withdrawn at school (shoulders hunched up, head lowered),
– when he feels comfortable he relaxes, (shoulders down, straight posture)
– fear of dark

Milena “Millie” Schonriegel

… is actually called Milena. Being half-Cuban, with dark curls and a darker skin color, she stands out in the GDR. Millie is lively, straightforward and funny. Her unconventional ways are a challenge to Paul and she becomes his best and only friend. Millie generally gets along well with her single father, and she loves the world of the theater, where he works as a lighting technician.

– excited
– gesticulating
– happy
– jumpy
– strong
– like Paul she also likes to play
– also curious

Sir Wiggles

This „ugly-cute“ rat belongs to Millie. He pokes his curious nose into everything and also likes to test everything for edibility. Sometimes Herr Hurtig even obeys little commands Millie gives him, but sometimes he also gets her into trouble. He likes to climb up onto Millie’s shoulder or sleep in the folds of her sweater, where he can quickly vanish out of sight.
He may be Millis side kick, but he is not a cartoony character. He is just a normal animal.

Grandma Liese

… is a tall, strong woman with a deep voice. She can be really resolute and rather tough, but she also has a sense of humor – a true Berliner, born and bred – and she loves her grandson deeply. It is only thanks to her courage and determination in taking on the authorities that Paul was able to be removed from the children’s home.

– strong and fearless
– old but not frail
– a lioness when it comes to defending her family

Uncle Henri

… is the younger brother of Paul’s father. Although he studied archeology and even was a doctoral student, he has had to work as a night watchman at the Pergamon Museum ever since his brother attempted to escape from the GDR. Uncle Henri is a slightly peculiar guy and a history nerd who loves to daydream about the distant past. His independent thinking has got him into trouble with the state on several occasions.
Henri is a gifted storyteller and has a penchant for origami.

– more of a thinker than an athlete
– has a lot of humour
– always tries to make the best out of a situation
– likes origami and telling stories
– knows a lot of tricks
– protective

Thin Man

…holds a leading position within the state security and is Johann Maibrink’s rival (alias Professor Hartwig). He wants to uncover what Maibrink and Henri are up to at all costs, and then use this knowledge to take Maibrink’s position.

– Antagonist
– does not joke around
– only comes out of his office when it’s really important, he leaves the legwork to Wrestler and Babyface
– ambitions for promotion and a killer instinct
– likes to win
– very smart, but overestimates his own brainpower
– impatient
– a real danger for Paul and Millie