Hatrack River Forum: Good bye, Lenin! (A sequel to Kama's excellent post on the subject)

This is topic Good bye, Lenin! (A sequel to Kama's excellent post on the subject) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=021361

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

This is looking like a really funny movie:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/good_bye_lenin.html

[ February 07, 2004, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: fugu13 ]

Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :

[Roll Eyes]

Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :

That looks fabulous! Oh man, I love foreign films.

Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :

Yeah, Annie. That's what you said the last time. [Razz]

Posted by Rappin' Ronnie Reagan (Member # 5626) on :

Dude, the clock's fixed! And I agree, the movie looks really good.

Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :

Oh yeah! I knew this sounded familiar.

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

Sorry Kama, I didn't remember that thread at all. I formally apologize.

Posted by Nick (Member # 4311) on :

It looks like a funny movie. My dad wants to take me to see it. FREE MOVIE!!! [Big Grin]

Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :

[No No]

Posted by Sal (Member # 3758) on :

Not only is it a good and funny movie, it's also pretty accurate, with only a little exaggeration here and there.

I rode past that Lenin statue every morning on my way to class. Gosh, those were weird times...

Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :

You know what made me nostalgic? When he couldn't find all sorts of products. We lost lots of different foods too, and lots kept their name, but changed the recipe, so they taste much different. [Frown]

I enjoyed the language. I was happy to understand pretty much everything, after overcoming the first shock of watching a movie in German [Smile]

I actually went to see the movie to one of the older theatres, a small, 1950's place which didn't have much renovation since. And they played communist songs before the show, to get you in the right mood. And there were no adds or trailers. [Smile]

Speaking of German movies. Anyone seen "Lola rennt"?

[ February 08, 2004, 05:48 AM: Message edited by: Kama ]

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

Yeah, "Run, Lola, Run" was actually a big hit here.

Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :

Goodbye Lenin! was the only movie I saw all summer when I was in Germany. I really loved it, even though I had a hard time understanding all of the jokes because the Germans in the theater were laughing too hard for me to make out the dialogue. I'm really looking forward to seeing it again with subtitles.

And Lola rennt is one of my favorite movies. For some reason I've really been wanting to watch it this week.

Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :

I've been wondering about this. Will it be a completely different movie for a person from the Soviet block than for an American? How much will the receipt of the movie be influenced by your actual experience? Will it be different for someone who's never seen the empty shop shelves? Who's never learned poems about Lenin? Who's never stood in long queues long before the shops opened?

(I actually don't know if East Germans had those queues. After all, they did have real Barbie dolls [Eek!]

)

[ February 08, 2004, 03:09 PM: Message edited by: Kama ]

Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :

I'm sure it was a very different experience for me than it was for you. While I probably know more about East German/Soviet history than the average American, it doesn't really compare to living it. So there's no way I could have identified with it as strongly as you.

It's still a good (and informative) movie, and I think Americans should watch it.

Posted by Sal (Member # 3758) on :

No question, Kama, it's a very, very different experience. First, there's a huge cultural divide. (For example, I never watch American comedies of the shrill kind. They make me cringe and feel embarrassed for anyone who finds the inherent degradation of human dignity funny.) Beyond this, there are a lot of insider jokes in the movie. Pretty much everyone above a certain age (I'll NEVER forget that you called me OLD! [Razz]

) can sing along to those songs, has worn those clothes, driven those cars...

However, my sister has dragged every international visitor into this movie for over a year, and so far they've all enjoyed it immensely.

The only complaint from East Germans is that the movie fails to show some of the good sides of that time. But hey, it's a comedy!

Another good German movie of recent years is "Nowhere in Africa". I think it even got an Oscar or something.

Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :

Part of Nowhere in Africa was filmed on the street where my study abroad program building was in Munich. [Smile]

I haven't seen it yet, though. And yes, it did get an Oscar.