Barbara (12A)

Film

Drama

Barbara.jpg

Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>4/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5
Rate this  

Time Out says

Wed Aug 15 2012

Christian Petzold (‘Yella’) won the Best Director prize at this year’s Berlin Film Festival for this subdued mystery about Barbara (Nina Hoss), a woman in 1980s rural East Germany who arrives from the city to work as a doctor, and lives a double life as a political operative. The film’s thriller tendencies are buried beneath a more low-key study of love and loyalties as Barbara is pulled between a chance to escape and her concern for her patients. This is coupled with the allure of a new friendship with André (Ronald Zehrfeld), a fellow doctor who also buries his secrets deeply. Petzold’s portrait of Germany in this period is subtle, and Hoss gives a discreet, thought-provoking performance. 

Author: Dave Calhoun

9

Comments

Add +

Release details

Rated:

12A

UK release:

Fri Sep 28 2012

Duration:

105 mins

Cast and crew

Director:

Christian Petzold

Screenwriter:

Christian Petzold, Harun Farocki

Cast:

Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Rainer Bock

Share your thoughts
  4. * mandatory fields

Comments & ratings

Rated as: 3/5 (6 ratings)

  • I live in North Carolina, where can I see Barbara the movie?

    Elke Weber Fri Mar 8
    Report

  • I live in North Carolina, where can I see Barbara the movie?

    Elke Weber Fri Mar 8
    Report

  • This is a splendid film. I liked its quietness which made the constant feeling of surveillance all the more oppressive. The two central performances, Barbara and Andre, were excellent and the way they opened up to one another was very compelling and believable. If the ending was a little unsatisfactory it was a small price to pay for what was an absorbing and gripping film..

    Peter Ludbrook Wed Oct 31 2012
    Rated as: 4/5
    Report

  • Ignore the marketing nonsense about it being 'brought to you by the producers of' as it creates totally false expectations. This is a slow build and more everyday threat and fear and as such is more believable and therefore more gripping. I agree the ending was a bit soft but did provide a resolution to Barbara's own warming up through the lives of others! A really enjoyable film beautifully shot to bring everyday grimness and the beauty within it (usually human stories) was well done and reminded me of Kaurismaki and his portraits of Finland.

    Brian Whittaker Tue Oct 16 2012
    Rated as: 4/5
    Report

  • Very poor - predictable, slow, boring, characters you don't care about. The only comparison with The Lives of Others is that it is based in East Germany during the Cold War. The only comparison! I really can't believe the 4 and 5 star reviews

    Paul Sat Oct 6 2012
    Rated as: 1/5
    Report

  • I went knowing almost nothing and was moved and surprised. In alot of respects, it's a quiet film with a heartening reserve but the emotional positions of the characters are very clearly and well-played. The Chic track over the closing titles is unexpected and appropriately unambiguous. It is a melodrama but if there are a couple of 'clunks', I felt these were more than well-balanced by gracefully open-hearted humanity.

    Phil Ince Wed Oct 3 2012
    Report

  • After a promising start the whole film began to fall apart for me. Clunky plot contrivances abound and the 'feel good' ending just feels fake.

    yiorgos Wed Oct 3 2012
    Rated as: 1/5
    Report

  • Best film of the year by a mile... less comparisons to the life of others... this is very much less epic and less melodramatic... the central performace trully great

    john o sullivan Tue Oct 2 2012
    Rated as: 5/5
    Report

  • A wonderful film and for me the best film showing in London now by some distance.

    Peter W Mon Oct 1 2012
    Rated as: 5/5
    Report
  • Hotwise
  • Cool brands
  • Star