Lenin would be so proud!
"Goodbye,
Lenin!" is an unexpectedly beautiful foreign
film written and directed by Wolfgang Becker
that deals with East Germany shortly before the
Berlin Wall came down. A mother has a heart
attack before the Wall comes down, comes out of
her coma after the Wall is down and her family,
especially her son, is instructed to not let her
have any more excitement as it would surely lead
to a fatal heart attack. Knowing of his mother's
great love and loyalty to East Germany, the son
(beautifully played by Daniel Bruhl) decides
that he must do whatever it takes to make sure
his mother does not find out that Germany has
become unified. What follows is a film of great
history, great poetry and great power. Several
of the scenes in the film continue to be present
in my mind long after I have viewed the film.
One scene in which mother, played by Katrin Sab,
first goes outside following her return to
consciousness is one of the most visually
stunning scenes I have witnessed on film and Sab...with
little more than facial expression offers one of
those powerful cinematic moments that just
leaves you breathless.
Of course, there is a certain suspension of
belief here as the con being perpetrated by the
son becomes more and more and more
elaborate...yet, the characters are so well
developed and interesting that I found myself
willing to suspend belief.
I express mild disappointment in the tone of the
DVD Jacket and ads that I've seen for this
film...it is played to be more comedic than the
film really is. The film, in fact, is quite
touching and dramatic in nature.
This film is powerful, poignant and beautiful to
behold.
©
Written by Richard
Propes
TC Candler's Comment
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Jacob
Hall's Comment
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