Goodbye Lenin at DVinfo.net

Joe Carney · February 19th, 2005, 09:08 PM

Just watched on cable a wonderful movie from Germany called 'Goodby Lenin'. An excellent comedy about a son trying to protect his ill mother fom the tumultuous changes that happened in the forrmer DDR of Germany when the wall fell and Germany reunited.

It's one of the best movies in recent years dealing with the affection between a mother and son (wholesomely) to come out of anywhere.

It's also a wonderfully subersive attack on both extremeist ideologies and rampant consumerism without being preachy.

If this is an example what the German film movement is starting to produce, we all have a lot to look forward too.

If you don't have Starz cable, try your local video rental place or Netflix.

BTW, no sex, nudity, and only a very few well placed curse words. suitable for most viewers 13 and up.

In German with English subtitles. Don't worry, the visuals are so good, you won't spend all your time 'reading' the movie.

John Sandel · February 19th, 2005, 09:11 PM

Yeah, I saw that when it came out & it really stayed with me. One of those pictures where flashy technical stuff is beside the point: give me a good story, with characters I care about!

Mirko Sohr · February 19th, 2005, 10:56 PM

:) i am an east-german, and my friend Andreas Winkler (also member of this forum too) we still have the DVD even we live in Taiwan now, when watching the movie we all are falling back in old memories about our home-country, every detail we notice and it remember us about a small story, food / clothes / his yellow scooter (i had same in blue) the ugly looking helmet... the money / the empty stores, just everything we know from real...

btw. this movie isn't a comedy, it show u how was it in real...

Joe Carney · February 25th, 2005, 02:29 PM

Mirko, I wasn't making light of the problems that overtook the former DDR. The comedy was the situations about how far the son would go to protect his mother from change, since she was a dedicated comunist, too hardcore even for party regulars. Yet it wasn't about comunism at all.
This isn't a belly laugh comedy. It has serious points throughout, but more a thoughtfull well done make you think type comedy.

Maybe a dramedy would be more accurate. (hollywood corruption of the language et all). Or a drama with a wry sense of humor and depth. What ever you call it, it's a great movie.

Last movie out of Germany I liked so much was Run Lola Run. I saw it in the theater, purchased the DVD and the sountrack. Became a Franke Potente fan.

Like I said, seems German cinema is starting to make a mark on the world.

Cleveland Brown · March 8th, 2005, 02:19 AM

My wife grew up in East Germany and when we watched it a few months ago, she kept stopping it and explaning to me.
According to her, it was extremely accurate. The West German film maker gets her seal of approval for telling it very close to what she remembers.

February 19th, 2005, 09:08 PM	#1
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Goodbye Lenin Just watched on cable a wonderful movie from Germany called 'Goodby Lenin'. An excellent comedy about a son trying to protect his ill mother fom the tumultuous changes that happened in the forrmer DDR of Germany when the wall fell and Germany reunited. It's one of the best movies in recent years dealing with the affection between a mother and son (wholesomely) to come out of anywhere. It's also a wonderfully subersive attack on both extremeist ideologies and rampant consumerism without being preachy. If this is an example what the German film movement is starting to produce, we all have a lot to look forward too. If you don't have Starz cable, try your local video rental place or Netflix. BTW, no sex, nudity, and only a very few well placed curse words. suitable for most viewers 13 and up. In German with English subtitles. Don't worry, the visuals are so good, you won't spend all your time 'reading' the movie.

February 19th, 2005, 10:56 PM	#3
Mirko Sohr New Boot Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kaohsiung / Taiwan / R.O.C. Posts: 15	:) i am an east-german, and my friend Andreas Winkler (also member of this forum too) we still have the DVD even we live in Taiwan now, when watching the movie we all are falling back in old memories about our home-country, every detail we notice and it remember us about a small story, food / clothes / his yellow scooter (i had same in blue) the ugly looking helmet... the money / the empty stores, just everything we know from real... btw. this movie isn't a comedy, it show u how was it in real... __________________ ---------- i am german, living in Kaohsiung / Taiwan R.O.C. sorry my english isnt the best, if u find some blemish, take it and sale it on ebay or the store u prefer :)

March 8th, 2005, 02:19 AM	#5
Cleveland Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 138	My wife grew up in East Germany and when we watched it a few months ago, she kept stopping it and explaning to me. According to her, it was extremely accurate. The West German film maker gets her seal of approval for telling it very close to what she remembers. __________________ CLEVE-ij

February 19th, 2005, 09:11 PM	#2
John Sandel Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: stately Eldora Road Posts: 386	Yeah, I saw that when it came out & it really stayed with me. One of those pictures where flashy technical stuff is beside the point: give me a good story, with characters I care about!

February 25th, 2005, 02:29 PM	#4
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Mirko, I wasn't making light of the problems that overtook the former DDR. The comedy was the situations about how far the son would go to protect his mother from change, since she was a dedicated comunist, too hardcore even for party regulars. Yet it wasn't about comunism at all. This isn't a belly laugh comedy. It has serious points throughout, but more a thoughtfull well done make you think type comedy. Maybe a dramedy would be more accurate. (hollywood corruption of the language et all). Or a drama with a wry sense of humor and depth. What ever you call it, it's a great movie. Last movie out of Germany I liked so much was Run Lola Run. I saw it in the theater, purchased the DVD and the sountrack. Became a Franke Potente fan. Like I said, seems German cinema is starting to make a mark on the world.