Good bye, Lenin! (2003)

Outline: When highly socialist Christiane (Kathrin Sass) sees her son, Alex (Daniel Bruhl), violently arrested in a protest, she has a heart attack and falls into a coma, during which time the Berlin Wall falls and East Germany becomes increasingly influenced by the West. When she comes to eight months later, the doctor informs Alex and Ariane (Maria Simon) that any shock could put their mother in the grave. Alex decides to create a socialist paradise for his mother in order to save her.

Whoo-hoo! Another foreign film. Also, whoo-hoo for the Bytowne! Honestly, I think I could be pretty happy running a repetoire theatre. I would have two screens: one would should classics like A Streetcar Named Desire and The Apartment, and the other would be for the kinds of documentary, independent, and foreign films that the Bytowne shows. Wouldn't that be great?

In any case, I don't understand German, although it is remarkably similar to English, so I can make out some things. Okay, what I mean is, German is not my number one language (English) or my number two language (French) or my number three language (jibber-jabber). Thus, when I watch a film in German, I don't always know if people are doing a good job or a bad job. I usually guess by their faces.

That said, this movie is so sweet and so hilarious. Yes, it borders on the ridiculous at points, and it can be a bit slow, but it's still a good watch. Besides, how sweet is Alex? Who does that for their mom? If you think it wouldn't be that hard, you have no idea. All the food she used to eat it no longer sold, and forget TV and radio. Serious, this kid is hard core.

Don't ask me about Wolfgang Becker (director and co-author). I had never heard of him prior to this. He used to be a cinematographer, and it shows in his direction. As for Bernd Lichtenberg (co-author), to my knowledge, this is literally the only thing he has ever worked on. That must be quite daunting considering how many awards the film as won.

Okay, so, if you can, you should check this film out. It's a little on the slow side, but the laughs are well worth it.