Vocabulary to analyse and interpret filmic devices must be learned english to german to be used in speaking and writing. In 1989, alex lives in communist east germany with his beloved mother, christiane, who is a staunch follower of the party. It seems almost incredible watching this clever, poignant little movie from director wolfgang becker, that delivers the shock of the. Goodbye lenin is rich in visual representation and humour, and will provide the viewer with an accurate historical impression of how. Film synopsis wolfgang beckers goodbye leninis a rip van winklestyle satire about one mans attempt to make history and time stand still, so he can protect his ill mother from the times political upheaval. When she awakens eight months later in june 1990, her son attempts to protect her from a fatal shock by concealing the fall of the berlin wall and the collapse of. And for a more historical viewpoint, bridge of spies should be on your mustwatch list. The best cpd for literature and film going and you can follow it at your own pace. What kind of storytelling choices are behind this story. Film scholars have started to check the main serious models and give extra care to the connections between german popular cinema and its purpose. Wolfgang beckers film goodbye, lenin 2003 portrays a tragicomic story of an. Becker approaches to unification in his film goodbye lenin.
This heartwarming film took more money at the german box office in its first month than the harry potter films. In analysing goodbye lenin, films capacity to render historyin particular counterfactual historyis one issue. The william tell overture by rossini other incidental music from the film by. A sensitive portrayal of east germanys collapse world. Film synopsis wolfgang becker s goodbye lenin is a rip van winklestyle satire about one mans attempt to make history and time stand still, so he can protect his ill mother from the times political upheaval. Goodbye, lenin directed by wolfgang becker essay 527 words 3 pages taking place in east germany, 1989, the movie is about a family consisting of a mother, son, and daughter. Many people backed it through fear, ambition or prudence, but did anyone actually love it and believe in it. The mixing of actual footage with that shot for the films themselves is top notch.
We first meet the kerner family in 1989 on the eve of the german democratic republics 40th. An individuals lifestyle is affected dramatically when there is a change in political system. He also approaches unification between the east and the west as something unwelcome. Yann tiersen claire pichet antonella marafioti kevin macleod. Both films portray the legacy of east germany, but with decidedly different tones. A sensitive portrayal of east germanys collapse good bye lenina film by wolfgang becker by richard tyler 4 september 2003 good bye lenin successfully mixes comedy and tragedy, disappointment. Wolfgang becker, director of the tragicomedy film goodbye lenin and photojournalist jeanclaude coutasse, through their compositions, explore the consequences that occur due to shifts in political doctrines. Film analysis lesson plan template and teaching resources. The boy and girl play in the back yard and around the house. A look at humour, music, filmstil and offcommentaries used in the film. In 1989, alex kerner and his mother christiane are living in east berlin.
Goodbye lenin is rich in visual representation, wit and humor and gives an accurate historical impression of how these changes affected the lives of east german people and their responses in return. Storytelling in storylines an analysis of good bye, lenin. The director, wolfgang becker in the movie good bye lenin has strong personal links and special interest to east berlin and he has used his complete knowledge, familiarity and. In this endeavor, beckers film succeeds in both reflecting and. The mother, christiane, is a strong socialist and a party member of the german democratic republic gdr. After the titles, a television reporter speaks about. Lastly, there were many things to learn and take from the film, goodbye, lenin. By exanimating the images of separation and connection that he created. In this blog, i would like to analyse how the ostalgie mood is.
The film opens with old footage from summer 1978 at our old weekend cabin. In the final days before the fall of the berlin wall, there are riots against the regime. As she watches in disbelief, the statue glides past, rotating slowly to face her as it does so with its right arm outstretched, a disassembled symbol of her own lost past seemingly reaching out for help, but also looking uncannily like an. We have chosen to focus on the german film goodbye lenin. I learned how the sudden switch to capitalism from socialism. The fall of berlin wall is an important historical event not only for german but. Introductory powerpoint on using point, evidence and evaluation in film essay analysis. Germany around the time of the collapse of the berlin wall. Alex and ariane find her at the same time and rush her home. This is continuity corner, a collection of movie and film mistakes, errors.
Film techniques used in good bye, lenin teaching resources. Therefore, it is inevitable that there will be drastic social and individual upheaval if a political system such as this is dismembered. But alex joins the uprising against the state, and is attacked by the police the shock of which sends christiane into a coma. Alex wakes up and finds that shes gone and rushes out to find her. Peculiar, because it never quite addresses the selfdeception which causes christiane to support the communist regime in the first place.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In goodbye lenin, the revolution is only presented at the start of the film, everything else flowed from that, changes that transformed everyones lives, and now have come to symbolise the end of communism. Carefully guided questions in german to encourage a deeper understanding of ways a director creates a scene through. The director, wolfgang becker in the movie good bye lenin has. This thesis however, focuses on films with humorous aspects. Goodbye, lenin directed by wolfgang becker essay 527 words 3 pages changed, including the fall of the berlin wall, the gdr being dissolved, and the reunification of west and east germany. In the tragicomedy goodbye lenin, becker utilises the colour red throughout his film to represent capitalism and the effect it had on peoples social and personal life. The film is called goodbye lenin and the story goes something like this. The effect of communism on peoples preferences the harvard community has made this article openly available. For a complete list of offcommentaries use the filmheft produced by the goethe institut which shows alex sat on a bench in front of a 40 jahre ddr banner, available to download elsewhere on the tes.
With the fall of the berlin wall, socialism in on the decline and capitalism begins to thrive with the sharp increase of consumer goods. Some films with a emotional tone, kind of a message can feel like a watch once film, not bad but kind of like it hits you once and it cant be the same the next time. Dir wolfgang becker, 2003, it reveals the change of viewpoint on the sense of eastwest unity in postwall germany. We and our partners use your information collected through cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience on our site, analyse. Cinema analysons le scenario du film good bye, lenin.
The political significance of wolfgang beckers goodbye. Analysis an individuals lifestyle is affected dramatically when there is a change in political system. This essay contends that the films political significance exists primarily in its nuanced understanding and unique presentation of germanys journey towards national reunification. Recorded 90 minute sessions on all the top french titles each with its dedicated printable booklet.