Film - The Rough Guide to Berlin - page 275

real sense of city life and speckled with wry examples of
Berlin humour.
Sonnenallee (Leander Haussmann; 1999). Well-received
teen comedy set in 1970s East Berlin, and one of the
earliest examples of Ostalgie .
Ì Berlin Babylon (Hubertus Siegert; 2001).
Fascinating documentary on the rebuilding projects after
the fall of the Wall, based on four years of footage.
Invincible (Werner Herzog; 2001). True story of a Jewish
strongman in Weimar Berlin who becomes convinced he's
been chosen by God to warn his people of imminent
danger.
Berlin is in Germany (Hannes Stöhr; 2001). A look back
at the GDR era through the eyes of a convict released after
the Wende and struggling to come to terms with the new
Germany he faces.
Was Tun, Wenn's Brennt? (Gregor Schnitzler; 2002). A
tale of anarchists squatting in 1980s Berlin, going their
separate ways and then being reunited a dozen years later
when charged with a crime. Neat insights into the time and
Berlin's grittier aspects.
Ì Good Bye Lenin! (Wolfgang Becker; 2003). Arguably
the finest Ostalgie film, with dozens of humorous moments
and a melancholy look at the Wende and its influence on
daily lives.
Der Untergang ( Downfall ; Oliver Hirschbiegel; 2004).
Much-debated film portraying the last days of Hitler

(played by Bruno Ganz) in his bunker, it also believably
depicts scenes from the Battle of Berlin.
Die Fetten Jahre sind vorbei ( The Edukators ; Hans
Weingartner; 2004). Good Bye Lenin 's Daniel Brühl plays
one of three activists who kidnap a businessman in one of
Berlin's a uent suburbs. The film at times takes itself a bit
too seriously but delivers some fun snatches of life in
Noughties Berlin, and the plot has several interesting
twists.
Gestpenster ( Ghosts ; Christian Petzold; 2005). Modern
urban alienation in Mitte, focusing on the life of a late-
teenage orphan with mental problems.
Ì Das Leben der Anderen ( The Lives of Others ; Florian
Henckel von Donnersmarck; 2005). Highly evocative Stasi
drama set in an East Berlin that's riddled by agents,
informers and bugging devices. The film became an
international success, potently informing the world about
Stasi crimes.
Ich bin ein Berliner (Franziska Meyer Price; 2005). Fluffy
but watchable comedy by one of Germany's foremost
female directors.
Valkyrie (Bryan Singer; 2008). American dramatization of
the July Bomb Plot (see p.100) in which Tom Cruise stars as
Klaus Schenk von Stauffenberg.
Russendisko (Oliver Ziegenbalg; 2012). Film version of
Wladimir Kaminer's book (p.274); panned by critics but
watchable nonetheless.