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Set against the backdrop of the Berlin Wall's construction, Divided Sky tells the story of Rita Seidel, a woman in her late twenties, and her search for love and understanding in the German Democratic Republic. Her sense of self shaken by a recent nervous breakdown, Rita decides to reconnect with her past by returning to her hometown. There she convalesces and thinks about her future. First among her considerations is Manfred Herrfurth, an older chemist who was her partner before her episode. Even though their relationship suffers during Rita's retreat, they decide to try living together. Rita accepts a job as a teacher in Berlin and moves in with Manfred. The roseate glow of their cohabitation quickly fades into the pale twilight of recrimination as Manfred devolves into an insipid cynicism after his chemical patent is rejected. Utterly disillusioned, Manfred emigrates to West Berlin expecting Rita to follow. Choosing not to go triggers another mental breakdown and reopens questions about Rita's psychological state. The script for Divided Sky was adapted by Christa Wolf from her novel of the same title.