Goodbye Lenin!

[worldtradeisadeathmachine]

Whadidya think?

[Lenin's Law]

I think it was a comedy made to both poke fun at Stalinism in Eastern Europe and the corporate capitalism of Western Germany. I don't know if we should really go out of our way to make it seem that the movie was making some deep "ideological" or "intellectual" statement. I don't think it was openly reactionary, certainly not as much as many other films on Eastern Europe pre-1991 but I wouldn't call it a "revolutionary" film either.

As for the artistic aspect of it, I thought it was well-acted and humorous at times. The part at the end where the Dad became "Chanellor" for the day was particularly meaningful and funny.

[worldtradeisadeathmachine]

Originally posted by Lenin's [email protected] 15, 2006 01:38 pm
I think it was a comedy made to both poke fun at Stalinism in Eastern Europe and the corporate capitalism of Western Germany. I don't know if we should really go out of our way to make it seem that the movie was making some deep "ideological" or "intellectual" statement. I don't think it was openly reactionary, certainly not as much as many other films on Eastern Europe pre-1991 but I wouldn't call it a "revolutionary" film either.

As for the artistic aspect of it, I thought it was well-acted and humorous at times. The part at the end where the Dad became "Chanellor" for the day was particularly meaningful and funny.
I liked it.
I know it wasn't all that good intellctually, but it was interesting seeing how their household dealed with the fall of the berlin wall, from communism to capatalism. Putting what happened in that context made learning about the USSR and the fall of the berlin wall so much more accesible for me.

[Leo]

It was a very well made film, with extremely cinematic scenes. It wasn't really that political, it was telling the situation as it is in the background and telling a personal story as the main thing. For the most part, the way Goodbye Lenin! presented Germany in those days was correct.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

It was a great movie, regardless of politics. It denounces decadent socialism for its tyranny and bureaucracy as well as the expoitative capitalism that took it's place, which I think is what everybody who experienced life in that setting felt.

But regardless of any political commentary the movie may have made, it was beautiful as the story of a family struggling to keep their shit together.

[chimx]

i couldn't finish watching it. i rarely turn a film off, but i hate to about 50 minutes into it. simply an awful film.

[which doctor]

I liked Goodbye Lenin!

but I liked The Edukators better!

[Severian]

It was entertaining, well made as a movie. And maybe of some value politically; there is a bit of "next time we'll do better" sentiment - that Stalinist crap doesn't have to define socialism.

The politics is better for not being directly preached. But I wouldn't call it a revolutionary movie or anything, either.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15, 2006 10:35 pm
I liked Goodbye Lenin!

but I liked The Edukators better!
I liked The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser better :blink:

What was the point of this comparison? I don't get it.

Yeah, The Edukators was great.

[Leo]

Same actor plays the lead role in both movies.

[encephalon]

it was relatively funny, if only to people who have a sound historical context of the setting. that's all i gots to say about it.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Originally posted by Leo [email protected] 16, 2006 02:19 am
Same actor plays the lead role in both movies.
Yes, I realize that. Regardless...

[YKTMX]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2006 03:54 am
It was entertaining, well made as a movie. And maybe of some value politically; there is a bit of "next time we'll do better" sentiment - that Stalinist crap doesn't have to define socialism.

The politics is better for not being directly preached. But I wouldn't call it a revolutionary movie or anything, either.
Agreed. The movie was extremely sympathetic to "communist" mother, which is good. Also, it's sharp with regards to the limits of bourgeois democracy. For instance, the character who was studying economics who finds herself working in some fast food restaurant.

I enjoyed the film.

[Comrade J]

I like Goodbye Lenin - I think sometimes people take it a bit too seriously and get disappointed that it isn't what they expected it to be. Although it does have obvious political references, I don't think it's by any means attempting to be serious political movie, and shouldn't be reviewed as though it was trying to be.

It's a pretty good film anyway, I did enjoy it, and I don't think it's biased any one way really, so it appeals to more people.

[which doctor]

Originally posted by Dr. Rosenpenis+November 16, 2006 02:18 am--> (Dr. Rosenpenis @ November 16, 2006 02:18 am)
Leo [email protected] 16, 2006 02:19 am
Same actor plays the lead role in both movies.
Yes, I realize that. Regardless... [/b]
They also both take in post-soviet Germany and have to deal a little with politics.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Goodbye Lenin was less pragmatic and better, IMO

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, by the by, is better than either
it tackles political issues even more so, but through a story rather than as blatantly as The Edukators or Goodbye Lenin

[YSR]

Yah, the Edukators was kind of a letdown for me. Besides the tagline, it wasn't that great.

I really wanna see Goodbye Lenin though.

Doc, what's the Enigma about?

[Mujer Libre]

Originally posted by Comrade [email protected] 16, 2006 08:30 pm
I like Goodbye Lenin - I think sometimes people take it a bit too seriously and get disappointed that it isn't what they expected it to be. Although it does have obvious political references, I don't think it's by any means attempting to be serious political movie, and shouldn't be reviewed as though it was trying to be.

It's a pretty good film anyway, I did enjoy it, and I don't think it's biased any one way really, so it appeals to more people.
I agree. I think it was firstly a film about families and relationships and secondly a political film. So if you go in expecting mainly politics you'll be disappointed. Luckily I watched it having not even heard of it before we went in. I was pleasantly surprised. :P

Haven't seen the Edukators yet, but I really like Daniel Bruhl (sp? Is that even his name?).

[Comrade Corinna]

I loved that movie! It made me cry, and that rarely happens... you know, at the part when the mother sees the statue of Lenin being carried away, a very poignant scene- brought tears to my eyes.
But then again, it was 2am when I saw it.

I liked it, I saw it as kind of a dark comedy. A lot of funny scenes, but in reality the message, although not a deep intellectual or political one, is quite disturbing. Very well done.
Plus, Daniel Bruhl is gorgeous.

He is in the Edukators too, does anyone know if he is of any specific political persuasion?

[bcbm]

Originally posted by Comrade [email protected]r 18, 2006 08:26 pm
He is in the Edukators too, does anyone know if he is of any specific political persuasion?
He also played an anarchist in a Spanish film.

From an interview:

"32. After “The Edukators”, “Salvador” is already the second film in which you play an anarchist. What have you learnt from this ideology?

Daniel: I share a lot of ideals with the two youngsters in both films, but I must admit that I compensate in the films for what I don’t dare to do in real life."

[Pirate Utopian]

sorry about the bump, but if i start a new thread it's not cool too.

anyway i just saw this movie and liked it.
it's not an anti-communist movie at all, alex says in the movie himself that his fake newsreports represents the DDR as hew would have liked it.