Review of Good Bye, Lenin! (2003) by B P — 13 Dec 2009

Set just after the fall of the Berlin wall, this quirky German classic had me laughing from beginning to end, and I don't speak German.

The story of Alex's efforts to convince his mother they are still living in socialist East Germany is touching, hilarious and convincing. I watched this with my Chinese boyfriend and his parents, who remember Communism all too well, and this really seemed to touch a chord with them. I really enjoyed the escalating ridiculousness of Alex's cover up, from switching new brands of pickles into old glass jars to filming fake news stories to explain the encroachment of capitalism into a socialist state.

Ultimately, this was a heart felt, innocent and genuinely european film with a good deal of sentimentality for the sweeter side of socialism. A very satisfying conclusion to a film that taught me a lot about a place and time I had never really encountered before. Must see movie!