Capacity: 158 places
This interactive study day will explore the story of a family caught up in huge historical events. Discussion will focus on family relationships, the historical context of East and West Germany and the ‘disappearance’ of the GDR. There will be an introduction to the film in German and after the screening, students will be encouraged to reflect on the film and develop their German speaking skills.
Led by Maggie Hoffgen, Freelance Film Lecturer
Screening: Good Bye Lenin! (15)
Dir Wolfgang Becker / Germany 2003 /121 mins / In German with English Subtitles / Daniel Brühl, Katrin Saß, Chulpan Khamatova, Maria Simon
The film starts in East Germany before the fall of communism; our hero, Alex (Daniel Brühl), describes how his mother (Katrin Saß), a true believer in the communist cause, has a heart attack when she sees him being clubbed by police at a protest. She falls into a coma for eight months, during which the Berlin Wall comes down. When she awakens, her fragile health must avoid any shocks, so Alex creates an illusive reality around his bedridden mother to convince her that communism is still alive. Good Bye, Lenin! delicately balances wry satire with its rich investment in the lives of Alex, his mother, and other characters around them.
Projector MFL is supported by Routes into Languages North West at Manchester Metropolitan University.
