Film Screening
Goodbye, Lenin!

A playful, poignant exploration of nostalgia, social change, and the fall of the Berlin wall

Sat, 09/21/2024
6:00 PM Goethe-Institut Chicago

Dir. Wolfgang Becker
Germany, 2003
DVD, 121 min 

At the time one of the most successful German films ever made, Wolfgang Becker’s tragicomedy begins in East Germany in 1989, right before the fall of the Berlin Wall. When Alex's mother, Christiane, falls into a coma before the reunification of Germany, he faces a dilemma: how to shield her from the shock of realizing the world around her has drastically changed once she wakes up. Alex embarks on a risky endeavor to recreate the illusion of East Germany within their home, crafting elaborate charades and orchestrating historical reenactments to preserve his mother's fragile state of mind. Yet, as Alex immerses himself deeper into this elaborate ruse, Goodbye, Lenin! becomes more than just a tale of deception; it's a touching exploration of the lengths we go to protect the ones we love and the complexities of navigating personal and political identity. 
 
Celebrating both the absurdity and poignancy of life during a tumultuous era, Goodbye, Lenin! offers unique insight into the aftermath of the Berlin Wall's collapse and the breakdown of the GDR's societal structures.