User Reviews

It is a an East-German comedy, and yet it is funny, satiric and ironic. The Germans are not renowned for their sense of humour, and the Germans of the former GDR even less. Therefore this movie is a notable exception which deserves consideration. The satire is a very difficult field, because it is not easy to keep it on that thin line without falling into a spoof or a send-up, but this film manages to square the circle. What most struck me is the light touch of the director and his care of having actors play naturally like it would be in real life. Many funny situations are generated only by hinting at something and without saying it too clearly or roughly. The director is so smart in this sense, and he is so gentle in satirizing the customs of the leading class of the German Democratic Republic that the movie did not run into censorship. And yet, there could be a reason for it. Favouritism is openly practiced and taken for granted in a communist country, where everybody is called "comrade" and egalitarianism should be a pillar of society. If you are a politician or a high-up member of the Party every door is open to you and you are treated with more deference than rich people in capitalistic countries. You are not even obliged to respect the law. If you are just a common citizen, then you have to toe the line, stand in the queue and wait without complaining. The inventiveness of the script also attracted my attention. Starting from a simple cue, the writer finds out many funny situations which are always different and have something to say. I sincerely laughed, and I can hardly believe this if I think that the sense of humour of East-German movies - where any - is rough and can be hardly got by a stranger. Those who lived in GDR will also find in this movie what is called "GDR all day life". For others like me it is an useful small window on a country and a time I know very little about. Although I already knew that egalitarianism and social justice is one of the many false myths of communism.