Friedliche zeiten | Germany | 2008
98 minutes
Director: Neele Leana Vollmar
Producers: Caroline Daube
Screenplay: Ruth Thoma. Based on the novel by Birgit Vanderbeke
Photography: Pascal Schmit
Editor: Florian Drechsler
Production designer: Stephanie Schlienz
Music: Oliver Thiede
With: Katharina Schubert, Oliver Stokowski, Nina Monka, Leonie Brill, Tamino Wecker, Axel Prahl
Festivals: Montreal World 2009
In German with English subtitles
Censors rating PG cert
Irene and Dieter have fled 60s East Berlin with their three children for a better life in the West. The arrestingly odd Peaceful Times provides a comic, child’s-eye view of the serious difficulties that ensue. Irene can’t shake the Eastern Bloc mindset, craving conformity and living in constant dread of catastrophe in general and a Russian military invasion in particular. As seen by her two matter-of-fact little girls (and as expertly played by Katharina Schubert) she’s a lovely, mesmerizing bundle of nerves – and something of a responsibility. Dad Dieter meanwhile is crazy for swinging Western ways. Observing the growing rift, their two little girls plan the divorce – another novel freedom – they believe will make everyone happier. Based on a popular book, this is an eccentric, touching addition to the rich cine-literature of lives disrupted and defined by the Wall.
A young mother yearns for the conformity of a police state in this eccentric comic take on new freedoms in 60s West Germany.
