A sequel would ruin the sweet up in the air whimsy ending of Amelie, but I wanted one. The inspirational story of a little French girl who tried to improve everyone's lives with creativity and whimsical crafting. Set in East Germany at the end of the 1980s, Good Bye Lenin! satisfied my sequel craving.
The character is an adorable Jim Sturgess look alike who protests the government of the time and gets sent to prison. This causes his mother a heart attack, which puts her in a coma. After eight months, the famous Berlin Wall gets torn down and capitalism begins to set in. His mother wakes up, but is weak. Any shocking news could push her over the edge and kill her. A devout socialist, he knows that this might be that and creates an elaborate pre whole Berlin world for her to live in, and just like in Amelie... lives change.
Am I done sounding like a cheesy movie ad? Nope. I loved this movie. I had a terrible day and Emlyn put two films down in front of me. It is solely by chance I picked this one, which only confirms my faith in chance. Amazing colours and soulful characters made the unplausible but possible plot pull at my heartstrings instead of merely entertaining.
This was like a break up letter to East Germany... acknowledging why it just wasn't working out but giving the country the glory and romance it deserved. It can be easy to forget that something the history books paint as grim truly matter to some people, and this film is an epic proof that there is beauty in everything and no matter where we are on this planet we are held together by love.
Images thanks to IMDB, grandoisie, and jarek.
Always,
Mary
9 comments:
Have you listened to the soundtrack? It was actually composed by Yann Tiersen, the same composer behind the Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain soundtrack. It encaptures everything about the movie.
Good Bye Lenin! has to be one of my favorite films of all time.
oh you WOULD post one of my favourite movies ever! daniel brühl is basically the love of my life (though i say that about almost everyone. i have lots of love to spare). he speaks french and english and german and spanish (a man after my own heart!). lalalalala that is such a good film.
When I get the time... I'm so watching this! Too bad art history papers are taking over my life.
~Faith
this sounds amazing! must see it!
Wow, I will have to watch that! ...And that guy looks like a male version of Emma Watson, don't you think? Maybe a little?
I loved this movie.
THIS SOUNDS ADORABLE.
i love jim sturgess so much! if i had to pick a secret celebrity crush ;) i would have to pick him. god, hes amazing.
Okay, I already thought you were totally fabulous, but this post increases you in my estimation even more. I LOVE this movie. It made me so so happy! I love the story, the soundtrack, the fake newscasts, the hunt for pickles, everything.
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