Review of Barbara (2012) by Tvjerry — 27 Jan 2013

This is a typical European import: subtitled with an oblique narrative, minimal dialogue, no music and deliberate pacing. The title character is an aloof doctor in a small village in 80s East Germany (before the wall came down).

She works in a children's hospital and is subjected to constant surveillance from the authorities. Over the course of the film, she helps some of the patients, plots to flee the oppression and interacts with one sympathetic colleague.

While it's intelligently crafted and never dull, it's still unsentimental and sparse. For serious buffs only.