A LEVEL GERMAN
FILMS
TERMINOLOGY:
die DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik)
GDR, the official name for the former East Germany.
die BRD (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) FRG, the Federal Republic of Germany, the name for the former
West Germany and the new united Germany.
die Wende Turnaround, change. The term is widely used to refer to changes East Germany was
undergoing during 1989-1990, when the film is set
. die (Wieder-)Vereinigung (Re-) unification. Used to refer to the joining together of East and West
Germany, which was officially achieved in November 1990.
die Einheit Unity (of East and West in the newly unified Germany)
Ossis, Wessis Easterners, Westerners. The terms were coined during the Wende and have been used to
refer to people from East Germany (Ossis) and people from West Germany (Wessis).
die Aktuelle Kamera The Topical Camera. Title of the daily East German TV news broadcast which was
state-run and state-controlled. der Trabant One of two car makes produced in East Germany. It cost
more than 10 times the average monthly salary and had a waiting list of over 10 years. It has since
acquired a bit of a cult following. U2 used a Trabant on its Achtung Baby cover.
,Good bye, Lenin!‘: Wolfgang Becker (2003)
1. Halten Sie Christiane für eine tragische oder eine komische Figur? Geben
Sie Ihre Gründe an.
2. Welche Aspekte des wiedervereinigten Deutschlands findet Alex
enttäuschend (disappointing) und warum?
, 3. Alex: Findet ihr ihn sympathisch oder unsympathisch? Warum? Ist er ein
Lügner? Warum belügt er seine Mutter? Könnt ihr sein
Verhaltenverstehen/entschuldigen? Glaubt er, dass seine Mutter seine
Täuschung bemerkt hat?
4. Inwiefern ist Christiane ein Symbol der sterbenden DDR?
Possible content
After Robert’s defection she devoted her energies to supporting DDR-style socialism
She was decorated for her support for the regime
After Alex’s arrest her heart attack is indicative of the breakdown of her health and that of the
state
Christiane’s precarious clinging to life represent the final days of the DDR
By the time that she emerges from a coma into a brief remission, the DDR has gone
Nostalgic attempts to re-create a fictional DDR are ultimately doomed to failure
The witnessing of the Coca-Cola advert and the removal of Lenin’s statue are the writing on
the wall!
Lara tells her just before her death of the new German reality
The state has acquired new identities and parameters
5. Alex meint, die falsche DDR, die er für seine Mutter schafft, sei die DDR, die
er sich in der Realität immer gewünscht hat. Wie stehen Sie zu dieser
Meinung?
6. Inwiefern ist ‘Good Bye Lenin!’ ein guter Titel für diesen Film?
(inviefern – to what extent)
FILMS
TERMINOLOGY:
die DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik)
GDR, the official name for the former East Germany.
die BRD (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) FRG, the Federal Republic of Germany, the name for the former
West Germany and the new united Germany.
die Wende Turnaround, change. The term is widely used to refer to changes East Germany was
undergoing during 1989-1990, when the film is set
. die (Wieder-)Vereinigung (Re-) unification. Used to refer to the joining together of East and West
Germany, which was officially achieved in November 1990.
die Einheit Unity (of East and West in the newly unified Germany)
Ossis, Wessis Easterners, Westerners. The terms were coined during the Wende and have been used to
refer to people from East Germany (Ossis) and people from West Germany (Wessis).
die Aktuelle Kamera The Topical Camera. Title of the daily East German TV news broadcast which was
state-run and state-controlled. der Trabant One of two car makes produced in East Germany. It cost
more than 10 times the average monthly salary and had a waiting list of over 10 years. It has since
acquired a bit of a cult following. U2 used a Trabant on its Achtung Baby cover.
,Good bye, Lenin!‘: Wolfgang Becker (2003)
1. Halten Sie Christiane für eine tragische oder eine komische Figur? Geben
Sie Ihre Gründe an.
2. Welche Aspekte des wiedervereinigten Deutschlands findet Alex
enttäuschend (disappointing) und warum?
, 3. Alex: Findet ihr ihn sympathisch oder unsympathisch? Warum? Ist er ein
Lügner? Warum belügt er seine Mutter? Könnt ihr sein
Verhaltenverstehen/entschuldigen? Glaubt er, dass seine Mutter seine
Täuschung bemerkt hat?
4. Inwiefern ist Christiane ein Symbol der sterbenden DDR?
Possible content
After Robert’s defection she devoted her energies to supporting DDR-style socialism
She was decorated for her support for the regime
After Alex’s arrest her heart attack is indicative of the breakdown of her health and that of the
state
Christiane’s precarious clinging to life represent the final days of the DDR
By the time that she emerges from a coma into a brief remission, the DDR has gone
Nostalgic attempts to re-create a fictional DDR are ultimately doomed to failure
The witnessing of the Coca-Cola advert and the removal of Lenin’s statue are the writing on
the wall!
Lara tells her just before her death of the new German reality
The state has acquired new identities and parameters
5. Alex meint, die falsche DDR, die er für seine Mutter schafft, sei die DDR, die
er sich in der Realität immer gewünscht hat. Wie stehen Sie zu dieser
Meinung?
6. Inwiefern ist ‘Good Bye Lenin!’ ein guter Titel für diesen Film?
(inviefern – to what extent)
