German dynasties

In "German Dynasties: The Opels", members of the Opel family tell how they revolutionized our society with their car factory, but they also critically report on how their success changed the lives of the family itself.
When the family sold the factory in 1929, the Opels were one of the nine richest families in Germany.
The money brought glamor; one famous family member was Gunter Sachs, whose mother was a born Opel.
However, the wealth did not only bring blessings, but also posed a great challenge for some Opels, which threatened to cause them to fail.

For the first time, family members Carlo von Opel, Gregor von Opel, Christoph von Opel, Countess Ivonne von Schönburg-Glauchau (née von Opel) and Rolf Sachs, the son of Gunter Sachs, talk about the history of their family and also speak openly about the darker sides of success and wealth.
Unpublished, color film footage from the family allows an intimate keyhole perspective into the Opels' lives.

First broadcast: Monday, April 30, 2012, 11:45 p.m., ARD.