Goodbye Lenin

No-one could ever have accused the deceased German Democratic Republic (1945-1989) of fulfilling Marx’s utopian socialist vision, what with the little matter of concentration camps, unfeasibly doped-up mutant swimmers and those awfully nice people in the Stasi. Nonetheless, there are several million East Germans who retain some sort of nostalgic affection for the GDR, and the makers of this joyful little movie would certainly seem to be among their number.

It’s 1989, in East Berlin, and as the Scorpions prophesied, the ’vinds of change’ are blowing through the European body politic. The imminent onslaught of overpriced automobiles and Coca-Cola isn’t greeted with universal enthusisam, though. Particularly not in the household of teenager Alex, a devoted Party supporter whose mother, also an impeccable Communist, has slipped into a coma just prior to the fall of the Wall.

By the time dearest Mutti awakens from the coma, it’s well into 1990, re-unification is nigh, and Alex and family resolve to keep her completely in the dark about the horrendous recent events, in case they finish her off. This involves keeping TV and newspapers out of her sight at all times, elaborate lying about the smallest daily detail, and even a spot of creative socialist film-making. Meanwhile, the World Cup is unfolding, and the (West) German national team’s ruthlessly efficient progress towards world domination is triggering what Stalin would have called ‘spontaneous demonstrations of joy’ throughout the land, rendering Alex’s task even trickier...

As you may have gathered by now, Goodbye Lenin’s view of the old East Germany is so rose-tinted as to be delusional (the women don’t even shave their backs) but no-one should let that spoil their appreciation of what must be one of the sweetest, most warm-hearted comedies Euro-cinema has ever had to offer.