Goodbye Lenin!(2003)
Enjoyable German comedy about a family's elaborate schemes to keep the fall of the Berlin Wall from their ill mother.
Certificate
Age group15+ years
Duration121 mins
Goodbye Lenin is one of those films that I neither liked nor disliked. Yes there were some moments within the film that made me feel for the characters and their situation and it was interesting to find out some history surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall, but generally I was not blown away.
Throughout the film there were attempts at political humour; some succeeded and some failed. When the fake TV studio created problems for the presenter as a photograph fell down whilst recording, this did create a humourous response from the audience, but some of the jokes were wasted on the class, and on me.
To me, the main downside to the film was the fact that it was spoken in German, so english speaking audiences had to read subtitles whilst attempting to keep up with what was going on visually, for some this was not a problem, for others it was. There was also the feeling that I got from time to time throughout the film, which was that it was dragging a bit as I thought that some parts didnt need to be so long, which did make be occasionally bored which I dont think makes a great film.
Even though this film has its problems, I could see why some people would think it was a great film, possibly five stars, but it just was not for me.
Print this reviewThree radical friends subvert the ruling classes by rearranging their mansions, but one such trip goes critically wrong, as friends and enemies bond.
Certificate
Highly-acclaimed Oscar-winning drama about corruption and surveillance in Communist East Germany.
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