Release Date: February 27, 2004
MPAA Rating: R for brief language and sexuality
Directed by: Wolfgang Becker
Starring: Daniel Brühl, Katrin Saß, Maria Simon, Chulpan Khamatova, Florian Lukas, Alexander Beyer, Burghart Klaußner, Michael Gwisdek

Plot:
When his mother, a steadfast Communist, has a heart attack and falls into a coma while watching him being arrested during a protest in Berlin in 1989, a young East German man becomes concerned that when she wakes up, the excitement of the fall of the Berlin Wall may be too much for her. So eight months later, as she is returning home from the hospital, he sets about recreating the era of Communist era East Germany in the area around her apartment, but with everyone being so caught up in their new-found democracy, the illusion of depressing Iron Curtain malaise is difficult to maintain.

Review:
Things work differently in Germany than in The United States. Basically every country has their own set of rights, laws and other rules to follow. This has always been the case and back in 1989 it was about the same as well. Now, to protest and fight for what you believe in seems to be the right thing to do, but the result can turn out to be more than you bargained for.

Daniel Brühl who plays Alex Kerner in the film is a young man who decides to protest on the regime that is occurring. The film kicks off hard witnessing the tragedy that occurs. Just like it says in the plot outline I provided, Alex's mother watches her son Alex as he protests and gets caught by the police. She witnesses him being arrested and in the process has a heart attack and falls into a coma.

This is obviously a very touching case for any young man to see his mother go through. Communism is reflected strongly among a lot of countries and there are plentiful beatings and arrestment because of that. The world is not going to change because of one man. I'm sorry, if you think one person can make a difference than you are wrong. Its hardly unlikely for the minority to get the final say. However, if you have the majority in an alliance with you, then results can happen.

The film is in German, but includes English subtitles in some versions. So, there is a lot of involvement to watch the movie because not only do you have to analyze the situations, but you must read what they are saying. Dialogue is one thing that is important with films as such that have meaning and strange happenings. Of course, if you speak German, you won't have a problem, simple as that.

Goodbye Lenin moves somewhat in a healthy pace, enough to make you continue witnessing Alex's mothers survival or death. The film has a clever sense to it and each character holds his and her place strongly in the film. That is truly what made this film worth the run, the characters. Along with that, the film has a Director that has a sense of visualization and a wonderful editing eye.

Director Wolfgang Becker is well known in Germany for his filmmaking skills. Over the last few years he has gotten recognized for his deep and moving films. He is also no stranger in making films laughable as well. With a bit of comic relief he feels the story can get across to the viewer by making him or her more entertained while witnessing the tragedies.

Becker is no stranger to script writing and he does exactly that for Goodbye Lenin as well. The script is nailed with a complex, but yet simple story. In Goodbye Lenin there is no non sense special effects because quite frankly it doesn't call for it. Its a study of love and human emotions as they run wild to keep others happy. The film simply relies on a good direction and its characters.

As strong as an ending as you can get is provided in Goodbye Lenin. Once you begin watching the film, its predictable what will occur though. It does make a big impact for those who followed through nicely with Alex Kerner and for those who were affected. Overall its story and ending made sense and there is quite a few achievements in the film.

Goodbye Lenin is a touching and powerful film. Overall, it clearly manages to give the audience on impact of how protests can result and how communism can affect people. This is a little film that everyone should take a glance and witness because it defines lying to keep someone from suffering. With a moving story and a few laughs, Goodbye Lenin is a solid entry to the year.