Review: Barbara (2012); Dir. Christian Petzold

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Roger Ebert has asked me to write for him, which is very exciting!

Here’s my first piece: on German director Christian Petzold’s suspenseful film Barbara, about a doctor in 1980s, East Germany. It’s a fine film.

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12 Responses to Review: Barbara (2012); Dir. Christian Petzold

  1. ted says:

    So exciting. It’s a tightly written and detailed piece, leaving me with the feeling that these films, not having seen them, are IN their mileu – the snack bar, the hospital – but not sending a pointed message ABOUT them. True? They sound very atmospheric.

    • sheila says:

      Ted – yes, it’s ALL atmosphere, and it’s amazing because Petzold does it without any tricks. No quick cuts, no manipulation of the camera, no scary music. I read a really interesting interview with Petzold where he talks about how he deals with sound in his film (a key element): http://mubi.com/notebook/posts/spatial-suspense-a-conversation-with-christian-petzold

      And this Nina Hoss!! So good.

      And the feeling of surveillance is seeped into the molecules of the film, without a word spoken. You are terrified by any interpersonal interaction because you know everything is dangerous. This is all done, again, with no language. It’s quite amazing.

      • sheila says:

        Jerichow is basically a remake of The Postman Always Rings Twice – I loved it. Nina Hoss is a great femme fatale. Definitely worth checking out!

  2. sheila says:

    And here’s a piece I wrote on Yella, another Petzold film with Nina Hoss. Creepy as hell, and you really can’t point to why. Loved it. http://www.sheilaomalley.com/?p=64839

  3. Shelley says:

    Roger Ebert asked you to write for him?

    That is life-changing.

  4. Desirae says:

    This is so, so cool.

  5. Doc Horton says:

    The cream rises to the top, don’t it? Congratulations.

  6. Kate F says:

    BRAVA!!!!!! Fabulous piece. And fabulous new chapter!!! XOXOXO

  7. sheila says:

    Thank you, everyone! It’s an exciting time.

  8. Fiddlin Bill says:

    You so deserve to be writing in larger venues. And I hope you don’t lose the time to keep creating here. And the review is, as usual and expected, very good!

  9. Kathleen says:

    Congratulations on the Ebert gig. You’re a talented writer, and you have great insights into films and drama and, oh, just about everything you see.

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