A living timeline branching across 64 years of German history commencing with the first world war, this compelling chronicle immerses viewers in the lives and lineage of small-town family the Simons like a steadily unfolding novel. Avoiding the tendency towards a simplified, good vs. evil account of history, Heimat, roughly translated as "homeland," captures the coexistence of ordinary Germans in times of profound atrocities and radical socio-political transformation. The film's confrontational view of Germany's past has prompted introspection from audiences around the world, and the acknowledgement of past crimes against humanity as a shared scar that touches all of human history. Two years in the making, this epic series features 140 speaking roles and 5000 non-professional actors.