Good Bye Lenin! - a low-key treasure that works on so many levels
Written: Oct 30 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Skilfully handles a potentially difficult subject in an appealing and unorthodox manner.
Cons: Maybe a little bit lightweight.
The Bottom Line: Highly recommended.
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| psi_fla's Full Review: Goodbye Lenin! |
"It's shown the competition just how to mix drama, comedy, characterisation and poignancy without becoming too cynical, or mawkish."
These were the words TV critic Ian Sparham (of www.offthetelly.co.uk, for those of you who are interested) used to describe The Office Christmas Specials. I may be the only one who makes this comparison, but similar words can be said regarding the German drama/comedy Good Bye Lenin!, to a large extent anyway.
East Germany, 1989. Christiane Kerner (Katrin Sass) is a staunch Socialist who suffers a heart attack after watching her son Alex (Daniel Brühl) become arrested during a protest. Eight months later, she wakes up from a coma, and sure enough, much has changed; the Berlin Wall has fallen and reunification with the West is inevitable. Not only that, but Alex's sister Ariane (Maria Simon) has a new boyfriend and Alex himself has fallen for Christiane's nurse, Lara (Chulpan Khamatova). Christiane will be pleased at all of this news, surely? No, she won't. The doctor has warned Alex that there can be no more heart attacks, so there can be no letting her know that the East Germany she once knew is no more. But how can this be done?
That's the fun of it. The focus is on how Alex will keep the truth hidden from Christiane - and it is how he does it, not what he does, that keeps us watching constantly.
Despite the serious subject matter (Christiane's life is constantly in the balance) director Wolfgang Becker refuses to maintain a grim tone. Had he done so, the film may have descended to the level of a pretentious melodrama. Even so, successfully balancing comedy and tragedy isn't as easy as it looks, and it's to Becker's credit that he succeeds admirably. My main gripe with Jean-Pierre Jeunet's A Very Long Engagement was that it made its quirky elements too prominent, and thus occasionally ran the risk of losing sight of its central theme. Becker skilfully avoids Jeunet's misstep by not trying so hard to be funny or quirky, and as a result he gets laughs at nearly all the right moments, without forgetting the seriousness of the protagonist's plight. Thanks to Becker and Daniel Brühl, Alex is developed into a real individual who you come to care for. Some of Alex's outbursts and plans may sometimes make him dislikeable, but on the whole, we see Alex as a determined optimist underneath all of that surface pessimism. Brühl even manages to form a convincing chemistry with co-star Chulpan Khamatova - it's amazing that he does so considering how little time is given to the romance. The supporting cast, especially Kathrin Sass, are just as impressive.
Good Bye Lenin! applies an unorthodox story to a significant historical event, and the result is both affecting and delightful.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
psi_fla
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Reviews written: 21
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