The story takes place in a small town on the Baltic coast of East Germany in the 1980s. The special social forms and people's living conditions in East Germany have always been the points of interest in German literary works. But unlike the position of political factors in other works, "Barbara" only spreads it on the background layer. The first thing the audience sees in the movie is the story between two people.
Barbara from Berlin is a skilled pediatrician. The film uses a few details to outline her taste: the classical music she listens to, the piano she plays, and her dressing up. She "isolated" herself from other colleagues, including Andre, the doctor in charge of the clinic.
Later, we slowly discovered the secret behind Barbara, and gradually learned about Andre’s similar experience. So we asked ourselves: What is the relationship between these two people?
Following the clue of the relationship between the two, the film unfolds and develops step by step. Among them, two treatments of patients are particularly important plots. The two patients were Stella, a girl who was forced to work, and Mario, a teenager who committed suicide in love. If the meticulous and attentive care of Stella makes people see the feeling and sense of responsibility under Barbara's icy shell, then Mario's plot is even more critical for the presentation of the theme. Barbara discovered that Mario, who seemed to be recovering well, actually had a major hidden danger: his emotions were gone. He can remember what he ate at each meal, but he is indifferent to his girlfriend's emotions. So Barbara suggested that Andre undergo an operation, and explained:
"Look, do I have to have an operation too?" It
couldn't be clearer. In the climax part of the film, Stella reappeared, and everything came to fruition: Mario's operation went on smoothly, and Barbara also rescued her emotions by saving Stella.
The rescuer was Barbara herself, not her secret West German lover. This lover appeared twice in the movie, and his role is not to provide emotional comfort, but only as a symbol of West Germany. Everything shows that, as West Germany, he only provided Barbara with the motivation to leave, and there is really very little he can do. The girl who appeared in the cheating hotel warned Barbara whether this relationship is only based on sex, materiality, or even a misty imagination.
The story of the old doctor in Andre’s book makes this point even more clear: this is an unequal relationship, you just get what you need, and the straw you grabbed in your suffering does not last forever. It is absolutely true that West Germany is likely to mean abandoning the cause and even dignity of the passion.
We can't help asking: What does West Germany mean? Is life in East Germany so bad?
As Barbara took the train, we saw the girls working in the fields waving their hands honestly and enthusiastically; we also saw the girl who helped hand over the money to Barbara raising her legs to prevent varicose veins. Even the head of the obnoxious surveillance department has a critically ill patient to take care of, and he will be overwhelmed by the responsibility of being a husband. Therefore, everyone just has to live.
There is an oil painting hanging in Andre's laboratory. Its meaning Andre has also clearly shown to us: no matter what kind of environment, no matter what kind of plot, we should first focus not on the meaning of the event, but on the independent person in it. He may be a victim of the times, but he also has to live.
It must be said that "Barbara" is a rather academic work, which is reflected in its carefully crafted script. The external force with a sense of design accurately appeared at every slight turning point, forcing Barbara to think carefully about where she is. This very classic construction is unsatisfactory. On the main line of the development of the relationship between the male and female leaders, those small details have played a decisive role. An excellent example is Barbara's two rides in Andre's car. The first time Andre always started the conversation, and the latter time, Barbara was basically asking questions. The change in the relationship between the two can be seen. The director of the film used a low-key, calm and profound way to tell the story in a leisurely manner, but it is full of lingering fragrance.
The ending scene of the film can be described as the finishing touch, and this scene is a microcosm of the perfect performance of the male and female protagonists in the movie, so there are so many unspeakable meanings in the two eyes. Such exquisite performance, exquisite script and precise guidance together let us quietly look at how we should live.
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