Barbara

Year: 2012
Genre: Drama
Director: Christian Petzold


Plot: For wanting to defect to West Germany, an East German doctor is banished to a provincial hospital and kept under the watchful eye of the Stasi and a fellow doctor they hired. Though she secretly plans to run away with her lover to the west, she starts to change as she strikes up a friendship with the said doctor.


The gist: Barbara is Germany's official submission to the Oscars this year, but it did not make the final list.

Set in 1980 before unification, the film focuses on Barbara Wolff, a doctor who is banished to a hospital by the countryside for applying to leave to West Germany. The Stasi (German secret police) keep close watch over her and has Dr. Andre, a physician who works at the hospital, to monitor her and report to them.

Andre however isn't just an errand boy, as he sympathises with her and tries to befriend her. She keeps him at arm's length knowing whom he represents, but slowly warms up to him as they spend more time working together. At the same time, Barbara secretly meets with her lover from the west and plans to run away with him.

Though the film largely is about Barbara and her daily activities, the real heart of the film is her friendship with Andre, and proves to be the most meaningful thing in this story. From sharing their pasts to assisting each other with patients, they slowly but surely become close, even when their emotions don't always come forth.

Credit should be given to director Christian Petzold and the crew for wonderfully authentic set design and camerawork. The windy countryside, old buildings and equally vintage bicycles successfully bring the film to life.


The good: Nina Hoss and  Ronald Zehrfeld put in subtle performances as Barbara and Andre respectively, but it works. Their quiet approach to the characters allows them to present their repressed emotions and get the message across at the same time without theatrics. As mentioned, the technical aspects are well executed also.

The bad: The pace can be rather slow at times. The rather abrupt ending also didn't help matters. I felt that the story could have used a bit more time to develop from the point it ended.


Verdict: It's a solid drama that convincingly shows the situation in Germany back then by putting a story between two people in the middle of it. It's not perfect but it works somehow. (3.5/5)