Goodbye Lenin

Of the rest of the countries in the world (i.e. all except India), Germany (Deutschland) is the one which fascinates me the most. I always had an admiration for things German (Deutsch); the land with its over 2000 year old history, its industrious & hard working people, the language so hard & precise and of course beer (bier :)). This was sufficient motivation for me to learn the language (and also to post in Deutsch sometime).

I also did read quite a lot about German history, particularly post-war (primarily from Wikipedia). Was really fascinated by the fact that a city (Berlin) standing at the cross points of two civilizations. I always wondered how life would have been on both sides of the wall, with perennial atmosphere of hostility but still being united by a common language and culture.

I saw a wonderful movie last Sunday - "Goodbye Lenin". It’s a movie about an East German family coming to terms with life post re-unification. I was greatly impressed by the movie and also as I had a German version (with English subtitles); it helped me brush up my language as well. Also I really enjoyed the experience of seeing the things which I read happen live before my eyes.

The story goes something like this. An average German family is living happily in East Berlin. Fearing persecution for not towing the party line, the father absconds into the west. But still the mother appears to be a headstrong socialist. Now in the late 80's the boy Alex grows up and is clearly dissatisfied by the scheme of things. In 1989 at the 40th anniversary of East Germany (Deutsche Demokratische Republik - DDR), an evening-walk protest is organized. As expected, the troops called "greens" brutally crush the protest. While all this is happening, mother is a mute spectator. As our hero Alex is being 'softened', mother faints. It is later declared that she went into coma after having a major heart attack.

When she is asleep, the wall collapses and Germany reunifies. Capitalism storms into the East and along with a deluge of westernization. In end (after a few months) the East ceases to exist.

In 1990, mother wakes up but is still in a fragile state. Now the doctor strongly advises Alex that she should be kept far away from any excitement, otherwise results could be fatal. Now Alex moves her into their house and comically tries to create an atmosphere like the old times, with bogus TV broadcasts, hiring kids to sing patriotic songs etc.
The movie goes on with many twists and turns and incidences that will make you laugh and cry and at least I didn't anticipate the ending.