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I’ve heard that, ironically enough, prices in Germany are quite high. Which is why I was amazed that this film’s budget only came out at under $2,000. The money was used for airline tickets, camera, tape stock, microphones, editing software, computer upgrades/expenses, and several other miscellaneous costs. It probably wasn’t an incredibly large production, but even for a one-man show, I think that’s still a very impressive final price tag, especially since the film has very few technical problems.
Having seen and loved Goodbye, Lenin gave me a real appreciation for the DDR and its people, so being able to see this documentary was a real treat. In fact, my history buff husband – who has occasionally griped about the movies I’ve critiqued – actually snatched this film up and watched it before me. My DDR T-shirt certainly seems to have enough interesting elements to it to get just about anyone interested, regardless of whether they would normally classify themselves as documentary enthusiasts.
While there are a few minor issues remaining, the film still stands quite well on its own.
As a child, I can remember a globe and world map in my home that displayed countries with names like the USSR, Czechoslovakia, and West and East Germany. Then suddenly, overnight, one by one, these countries disappeared. I was only six when the Berlin Wall fell, and it is only now, as an adult, that I can appreciate the history that has occurred within my lifetime.
Before recently, I knew very little about the divided nation of Germany and the people that were affected by it. It is thanks to films like Goodbye Lenin and My DDR T-Shirt that those like me gain a new perspective and appreciation of the chaos that surrounded the division and reunification of Germany.
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Content |
9.2 |
Visual
Look |
8.9 |
Use
of Audio |
8.6 |
Use
of Budget |
9.6 |
Lasting
Appeal |
9.7 |
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9.2 |
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The
author of half a dozen screen plays, two novels, and a proficient
camera-woman in her own right, Monika
DeLeeuw-Taylor is Microfilmmaker's lead writing analyst and
one of our top film reviewers. When she's not writing a critique for
Microfilmmaker, she's writing screenplays for Viking Productions. |
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