Review of Barbara (2012) by Sybille W — 03 Apr 2014
This is a small, low budget German drama. It was very well done. The story is set in Communist East Germany circa 1980. A woman doctor, Barbara (Nina Hoss), applies to emigrate to West Germany. She loses her job at a prestigious East Berlin hospital. Then, she is arrested and jailed for some period of time. After she is released, she is banished to a small, rural, provincial hospital. The East German secret police, the Stasi, keep an eye on her. They follow her. They visit regularly. Her apartment is searched. Our heroine is subjected to body searches.
Her West German lover manages to secretly visit her in East Germany. Plans are made for Barbara to escape.
Barbara's life is complicated by a male doctor, co-worker, Reiser (Ronald Zehrfeld). He has apparently come to work in a provincial hospital for similar negative reasons. He comes to admire and be attracted to Barbara.
The story held my interest. There were involving twists and turns. This is a good little movie; good, not great.
This movie is worth a look.
This review of Barbara (2012) was written by Sybille W on 03 Apr 2014.
Barbara has generally received very positive reviews.
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