Barbara is released in cinemas March 7 through Madman Films.
Christian Petzold’s
Barbara is an elegantly photographed, but
fidgety-paced character drama. As an undercurrent of East/West tension
ripples below the surface Petzold’s understated direction creates a
suffocating atmosphere influenced by conflicting emotion, and impressive
performances from Nina Hoss and Ronald Zehrfield.
Barbara is a
film that moves slow and requires attentiveness. The payoff, which is
admittedly moving, doesn’t quite reward the particular build-up.
Set in East Germany,
Barbara tells the story of a doctor (Hoss,
Yella)
who has been exiled from Berlin to a country hospital after requesting
an exit visa. As she warily acquaints herself with her new apartment and
colleagues – including her friendly boss Andre (Zehrfield,
In the Face of the Crime)
– Barbara is secretly plotting her escape with her West lover, Jorg
(Mark Waschke). Unannounced visits by the Stasi, who thoroughly conduct
shakedowns of her apartment and person for contraband, keep Barbara on
edge, and result in her being standoffish and suspicious of her
colleagues. Barbara reveals her skills as a pediatric surgeon, showing
compassion towards her young patients.
Barbara morphs into a
thriller of sorts, clouding Andre’s motivations for extending such
kindness and sensitivity, and having found unexpected responsibility and
purpose, Barbara’s specific agenda.
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