East Germany. Yikes. Remember East Germany? East Germany might just go down as the least fun country in human history. Even their Soviet overlords had mandatory fun from time-to-time. East Germany was so oppressive, I can’t believe this film was in color. Didn’t they outlaw that as well? The following represents my entire knowledge of the German language: “Alles verboten!” I can but hope it’s a happier place now.
It’s 1980, and Doctor Barbara (Nina Hoss) has been abused in this temporary country. Barbara has just been released from jail for the crime of asking for a transfer to West Germany, where things don’t suck (as much). Her request is met with prison and then banishment to some back-water surveillance village with not-so-secret police on her tail 24/7. The latter take great pains to make sure Barbara is accounted for at all times. Geez, what is it with you people? Do you get paid by the strip search?
From the outset, Barbara recognizes everyone around her as a potential narc, including the fellow doctor who wants to bed her (Ronald Zehrfeld) and thus enters all situations with a low-grade hostility, like a confined house cat. Christ, is she doing that to us as well? Lady, we’re just the audience; don’t give us the stink-eye. We might even be sympathetic.
For the most part, I found Barbara kind of tedious. The film is mostly about her crappy new slice of life in which, for the most part, she doesn’t like people and 
they don’t like her. And East German life sucks – oh, but I will give it up for one noteworthy moment while Barbara is in the doctor’s lounge area – the background noise of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games played in the background. Thanks to the boycott, I had never heard a single play-by-play of those particular Olympics.
There does turn out to be more to Barbara than her semi-charmed life of personal discomfort. Turns out she’s a pretty damn good doctor and naturally sympathetic, especially to patients brought in by the police. Check it out, girlfriend, we have the same enemy. This didn’t make me suddenly love Barbara, but it did provide a more sympathetic face than the one Nina Hoss presented us.
When not exchanging smiles with Ms. Meningitis, Barbara is actually plotting her departure. I have no idea how the film managed to find the dull side of escaping a bloc country, but I found this subplot, up until the climax, unimaginative and unnecessarily confusing. It’s possible I’m just too far removed from the subject matter. Had I seen a film like this before the Wall fell, or even shortly afterwards, it would have meant much more. As is? Welcome to your East German life. Did you suspect it sucks, cuz it does. Enjoy! Or don’t. We don’t care.
East Germany: Big Brother’s flock
Justice? Puh-leeeze. What a crock!
Perhaps I’m unkind
Is it all in the mind?
My memory has Soviet Bloc
Rated PG-13, 105 Minutes
D: Christian Petzold
W: Christian Petzold, Harun Farocki
Genre: Life under Big Brother
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: People freed by the destruction of the Berlin Wall
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Kids
