A Captivating Story with an Historical Element
A German foreign film that made the selection among five other contenders for the best international film in this year's Oscar nominations, has experienced big success in it's home country since debuting last March. The film, titled "Barbara", explores the cultural identity in the Soviet controlled Eastern portion of Germany through the lens of a young, female doctor who is faced with unexpected circumstances several years prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The conditions instigating the unfortunate changes in the life and career of Barbara is a result of heightened suspicion by the government of her loyalty and motives after having applied for travel visas to West Germany.
Influenced to some extent by her boyfriend to consider a westward exile, likely wouldprovide an escape from the policed society in Berlin that is prone to civilian surveillance and the poor conditions for many of it's people. The severity of control that East Germany held over the population is examined by the fact that Barbara's position as a well respected doctor is suddenly demoted to another post in the provinces, forcing her to relocate. Conditions there fall way short of what she had worked very hard to achieve prior to the reassignment. Forced to deal with the unhappy change, her sentiments however uphold a strong devotion to her work.
Amidst the deeper immersion into the confines of a much more rural existence conjures her assimilation and reevaluation of wanting to flee her native country. The reality of identifying herself as an East German and a responsibility that she feels inclined to offer begins to weigh on her. These standards of life though, void of opportunities outside the scope of the government is daunting for an intelligent, ambitious citizen who finds pleasure in aspects of Western culture much less basic freedom of expression. As the identity of being from the East presents a notion a somberness and fear for some, it nonetheless also is entails a nostalgic sentimentality among many of it's citizens.
This film helps offer a more personal account into the paradox of individuals compelled by the idea of a life unhindered by state oppression but nonetheless also feeling attached to the familiarities of their existence.