Hatrack River Forum: Good Bye Lenin! and Yann Tiersen

This is topic Good Bye Lenin! and Yann Tiersen in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :

Do we have any fans of either the film or the musician?

I recently saw Good Bye Lenin! and absolutely fell in love. It evoked nostalgia for a time and place I have never experienced, if that's possible.

The soundtrack was also hauntingly beautiful, and I'm beginning to explore Yann Tiersen's other music. I've also moved Amélie to the top of my netflix qeue (well, not netflix, but we have something similar here) just so I can listen to the soundtrack.

Any comments on either? I see we've already had a thread on the movie, but perhaps we can spark some more discussion. And are there any other movies or French artists you think I should check out? Wikipedia says Penguin Cafe Orchestra and Erik Satie are similar. Any opinions on them? Have I asked enough questions? What is the size of the universe?

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

I rather enjoyed the movie. [Smile]

It wasn't quite what I expected. I expected it to be funnier, and while parts of it were funny, it was much more touching than I expected.

Posted by Launchywiggin (Member # 9116) on :

I have the Amélie soundtrack, and am a fan of Tiersen.

Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :

I was expecting a bit more comedy as well.

A friend of mine, who is more cultured than myself, suggested I try Sylvain Chauveau.

Posted by Zophar (Member # 10063) on :

I really like Penguin Cafe Orchestra (as well as the original topics of the post, esp . Goodbye lenin and the music.)
I saw PCO in performance in about 1995 in Islington (London). I have 3 or 4 of their albums. You should definitely give them a listen.

Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :

Thanks Zophar. Will do.

Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :

I really liked the short animation, though cheesy, The Piano

Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :

That was really cute [Smile]

Posted by Snail (Member # 9958) on :

I own the soundtracks for Good Bye Lenin! and Amélie, but haven't really heard anything else by Yann Tiersen. I've been meaning to get to know his stuff better since, as has been noted by others, he is very good. I understand he's done some rock music as well.

I also really love the film Good Bye Lenin!, and it's probably one of my all time favourites. Those interested in East Germany there's a new film out called The Lives of Others which examines that time period from a very different angle than Good Bye Lenin! I haven't seen this film personally, but it's been getting really good reviews in Finnish papers. (I doubt it's a film to evoke any kind of nostalgia, however!)

Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :

Snail, if you're looking to buy another Tiersen album, I'd suggest Rue des cascades. I'm listening to it right now. [Smile]

Thanks for pointing out The Lives of Others. It seems to me it's mostly focused on the role of a surveillance operative in the lives of those he surveys, like One Hour Photo, except with secret police surveillance rather than family snapshots (just guessing, I haven't seen either film).

I see what you mean about it coming from another angle. Good Bye Lenin! is definitely more light hearted, but in my opinion doesn't go as far as white washing East Germany.

Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :

*attacks your thread*
German movies are awesome! To anyone who liked Good Bye Lenin, I recommend The Edukators, who has that same actor in it.

Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :

I like the premise of the story; looks very interesting. Consider it netflixed. [Wink]

Posted by Snail (Member # 9958) on :

quote:
I see what you mean about it coming from another angle. Good Bye Lenin! is definitely more light hearted, but in my opinion doesn't go as far as white washing East Germany.

I don't think so either. Rather it shows what the people who believed in the socialist dream believed in, and how different that was from the reality.

Thanks for the Yann Tiersen recommendation, by the way.

And if we're just recommending good German movies, Out of Rosenheim/Bagdad Cafe is a great if somewhat melancholy 80's cult comedy about a German woman who gets left in the middle of the Arizona desert by her husband, and starts a new life at a local gas station.

Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :

Thanks Snail, I'll check that one out too. [Smile]

Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :

Yann Tiersen is great; we've had a lot of suggestions of similar movies to see, does anyone have a suggestion of an artist like him?