Good Bye Lenin

[Robert Edge]

I watched the DVD version of this film the other day. There's some interesting supplemental material, especially a discussion about how the film was cut down to two hours. The director, Wolfgang Becker, called in another director, Tom Tykwer, and absented himself for three days while Tykwer and the film's editor cut an hour of material. Then the three talked through the proposed cuts. The DVD contains several of the discarded scenes and discussion between Becker and Tykwer about the rationales for cutting them. Worth listening to, as is the segment on using computer generated images in a realistic film and Becker's commentary on trying to recreate 1989 East Berlin on a tight budget.

Edited March 7, 2005 by R. Edge

[Allen Achterberg]

yeah just bought it for 6 bucks at hollywood video. i watched it and its an amazing film. Definately worth checking out. Martin Kukula BVK did a wonderful job too.

[Christian Appelt]

If you like GOODBYE LENIN, have a look at Becker's older film LIFE IS ALL YOU GET (Das Leben ist eine Baustelle).

 

Life Is All You Get

 

Same DP, a story not as straightforward told as LENIN, but most enjoyable.

Not available on DVD in the US, I'm afraid, but there's a PAL DVD (with English and french subtitles) that can be ordered through Amazon (Region 2 Code!)

 

DVD (PAL, R2) Das Leben ist eine Baustelle

 

BTW, Tom Tykver is not only a director in his own right, but he was Wolfgang Beckers co-author in writiung the LENIN script, so he was the natural choice to discuss and supervise cutting down the film.

Edited March 7, 2005 by Christian Appelt

[Robert Edge]

Christian,

 

I think you probably meant to say that Becker and Tykwer co-authored Life Is All You Get. In any event, they do appear to be partners in the production company that made Good Bye Lenin.

 

What I found interesting about this film is that Becker and the cast do a nice job of getting the audience to accept a narrative that pushes the outer limits of plausibility. It's the kind of thing that Pedro Almodovar does particularly well, and it isn't easy to do. It takes charming chutzpah and a fine balance between comedy and drama. In this case, the film is also very well served by Yann Tiersen's score.

[Christian Appelt]

Sorry, I got this mixed up. :rolleyes:

Becker wrote the GOODBYE LENIN script with an author named Bernd Lichtenberg!