Good Bye Lenin!

The comedy label is very misleading in this case. This is definitely not a romp, but rather a sensitively conceived film about filial love, the nooks and crannies of family relationships and coping with sudden social and political changes in one's country. The certain naivety of the script in the son's masking of reality from his mother cannot be overlooked, but that would be my only complaint. I would probably enjoy it more if I were German and had experienced all the changes myself. Becker seems to have hit the bull's-eye, because Goodbye Lenin was the most successful film of the year in its country of origin. (2004-09-27)

A fairly simple and unremarkable story in the form of a drama with a bit of a humorous subtext, depicting a son's efforts to create the best illusion of society for his mother after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Pleasant music, engaging cinematography and well done interludes. The plot is simple, but still managed to grab my attention, so extra point. One of the better German films! (2010-10-01)

A smart and above-average satire, not just by German standards, on so-called "ostalgia" - the nostalgic longing for the old certainties of real socialism in the former East Germany (GDR). We know this phenomenon in a weaker form in the Czech Republic as well. The film is built on an excellent idea supported by a well-developed script and decent, imaginative direction. The actors are well-cast and mostly good in their roles. However, those who can truly appreciate this film are the ones who lived through that era and understand it. Overall impression: 85%. (2007-09-03)

No hint of comedy at any single moment of the entire two hours of running time. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The theme alone is a gold mine. Too bad that the creators didn’t get anything out of it. And it is doubly disappointing that throughout Wolfgang Becker gets stuck on a thousand and one variations of the same scene. Even so, Goodbye, Lenin is a good picture because it entertains, but not using humor. If nothing else, it at least makes an attempt to come to terms with the past - whether it is successful, apt and dignified in doing so, I shall leave you to decide. This movie is utterly incomparable with the Czech “romp" Pupendo which at first glance is very similar, but at second glance everything is different. ♫ OST score: 4/5 (2007-08-13)

This film serves as an intriguing parallel to the regime that the main character tries to keep alive for his mother. Even that regime was just an illusion that had to come to an end. Acting-wise, the film is excellent and Daniel Brühl shows that he truly has had abilities throughout his career and I just hope to see him more often. (2016-04-07)