Mr. and Mrs. Lucau-Ndombele and their three children have been living in Berlin with a temporarily suspended deportation status for 18 years. The parents are not allowed to work and can be deported at any time without advance notice.

Their resident permits are renewed only for days or weeks at a time and their tireless efforts to acquire a working permit remain unrewarded. They are caught in paralyzing situation that also affects their German-born children. The imminent danger of deportation to Angola lies like a dark cloud over the life of the entire family.



The film depicts the daily struggle of the Lucau-Ndombele family for permanent residence and a work permit. It shows their strength and fighting spirit although they are haunted by fears of separation and a return to Angola, a country which has nearly become foreign to them. LIFE WITH A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DEPORTATION also exposes the impenetrable German legislations and bureaucracy which sadly often block successful integration.