Barbara - Christian Petzold

Oh my word I am falling in love with Christian Petzold! This is the second film of his that I have watched. The first was Phoenix which I watched back in 2021. You can read what I had to say at the previous link. In re-reading that post, I realize that I didn't really write much about the plot, just the premise. I think that was best for that film as it is a bit of a thriller. And wouldn't you know it, so is Barbara. It also has the same two leads - Nina Hoss as Barbara, and Ronald Zehrfeld as Andre. I didn't know much about this film, before I bought it from Kino Lorber...beyond the description on their website.  An East German doctor submits a request to leave the country. Because of that she is punished by being moved from her appointment in Berlin to a small hospital near the Baltic Sea. Honestly, even while watching the film I had no idea what town she was supposedly in, or what sea she was near...though there was mention of Denmark. During her time at this new hospital, we see that she comes off as emotionally cold and distant to other people - however she is a smart and intuitive doctor who truly cares for her patients.

The story is a slow burn, like some of the films by Carol Reed, and like Phoenix it all comes to a gorgeous emotional ending. Nothing big, but certainly satisfying. The performances by Hoss and Zehrfeld are truly fantastic. Petzold won the Silver Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival for this film and looking at his wikipage it looks like this is the first of a trilogy titled "Love in Times of Oppressive Systems." Phoenix is the second in this trilogy, and I am sure that I will look for a copy of the third, and any other films that Petzold puts out.