Barbara (2012)

 ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Barbara (2012) – C. Petzold

As suggested by the title, the film is a character study of Barbara (played by Nina Hoss), a doctor who has been transferred to “the provinces” in East Germany from a prestigious position in East Berlin.  She keeps herself closed off from her new colleagues, seemingly unsure of whether they are in league with the Stasi or not -- and the Stasi _are_ regular visitors to her “allocated” dingy flat, searching everywhere, including in personal places with rubber gloves. However, Barbara really _is_ considering escaping to the West to be with her boyfriend in Denmark, but things get complicated when she starts to open up to another doctor (Ronald Zehrfeld) who has warmly supported her (and likely has a crush). She also becomes involved in the lives of the pediatric patients of the hospital, showing some empathy. Director Christian Petzold (who followed this up with Phoenix, 2014, and Transit, 2018 – both great) keeps suspense going and doesn’t really let us guess the plot, allowing Hoss to provide small glimpses of her feelings, if not her intentions. In the end, this is much less Cold War thriller, and much more personal melodrama that happens to take place under highly unusual circumstances.