Good Bye, Lenin!

Communism has come to an end as the Berlin Wall falls in 1989 which may be too much of a shock for Alex's (Bruhl) mom Christiane (Sass)--a staunch Socialist--who has a heart attack right before the event and slips into an eight-month coma. In an effort to protect her from the changes capitalism has brought, he comically yet believably revives the vestiges of the fallen regime and even goes so far as to stage a newscast as part of the clever ruse. Although the practicality of the scenario is stretched, Bruhl impressively delivers in this offbeat farce. In German, with English subtitles. Winner of the 2003 European Film Awards for best picture.