Good Bye Lenin is a startling and unusual German black comedy, directed by Wolfgang Becker.
Before the fall of the Berlin wall, East German pro-Communist Christiane Kerner (Katrin Sass), has an accident that leaves her in a coma. Before she wakes up, the Berlin wall falls. Her son Alex (Daniel Bruhl) is warned that any kind of shock could kill her. Therefore, when she recovers, he pretends nothing has changed in East Berlin and undertakes an elaborate deception to prevent her thinking otherwise.
This is a hilarious film, which manages to be political without being preachy and poignant without being sentimental. The plot provides a fascinating inside look at German reunification using historic touchstones such as the 1990 world cup to good effect.
SPOILER AHEAD:
Most interesting however, are the lengths Alex goes to keeping up the facade. He even creates fake news broadcasts with his wannabe film director friend, in which the fall of the Berlin wall is reversed, saying refugees from West Germany are fleeing to the East to escape the excesses of Capitalism.
Politically, the film is wonderfully even handed. The fake East Germany Alex creates is far better than the corrupt, oppressive Communist regime that actually existed. At the same time Capitalism is seen as no better than Communism, with the onslaught soulless consumerism destroying the hopes and dreams of many, including a former East German cosmonaut reduced to driving a taxi for a living. The films many bitter ironies are handled with great delicacy. The emotional undercurrents are beautifully understated with exquisite performances by the entire cast.
Good Bye Lenin gently echoes the ideas of other films such as The Truman Show and Life is Beautiful, whilst remaining a completely unique experience in itself. I strongly recommend you make the effort and see it.
Before the fall of the Berlin wall, East German pro-Communist Christiane Kerner (Katrin Sass), has an accident that leaves her in a coma. Before she wakes up, the Berlin wall falls. Her son Alex (Daniel Bruhl) is warned that any kind of shock could kill her. Therefore, when she recovers, he pretends nothing has changed in East Berlin and undertakes an elaborate deception to prevent her thinking otherwise.
This is a hilarious film, which manages to be political without being preachy and poignant without being sentimental. The plot provides a fascinating inside look at German reunification using historic touchstones such as the 1990 world cup to good effect.
SPOILER AHEAD:
Most interesting however, are the lengths Alex goes to keeping up the facade. He even creates fake news broadcasts with his wannabe film director friend, in which the fall of the Berlin wall is reversed, saying refugees from West Germany are fleeing to the East to escape the excesses of Capitalism.
Politically, the film is wonderfully even handed. The fake East Germany Alex creates is far better than the corrupt, oppressive Communist regime that actually existed. At the same time Capitalism is seen as no better than Communism, with the onslaught soulless consumerism destroying the hopes and dreams of many, including a former East German cosmonaut reduced to driving a taxi for a living. The films many bitter ironies are handled with great delicacy. The emotional undercurrents are beautifully understated with exquisite performances by the entire cast.
Good Bye Lenin gently echoes the ideas of other films such as The Truman Show and Life is Beautiful, whilst remaining a completely unique experience in itself. I strongly recommend you make the effort and see it.