Corrected entry: Despite what the film portrays, it was not completely impossible to exchange East German marks for West German ones after the July 1990 deadline. Having a mother in a coma would undoubtedly have been an acceptable reason to exchange money a few days or weeks later.
STP
26th Dec 2003
Correction: Even though this is probably true, it is still more than possible that the petty bureaucrat that Alex is dealing with is just trying to exert his small amount of power. We don't see Alex or his sister ask anyone else for advice on the matter.
STP ★