
Barbara
Directed by
Germany
2012
105 min
- German
Drama
German Submission for the Academy AwardsEFA Nominee for European Film and European Actress
Summer, 1980. Barbara, a doctor, has applied for an exit visa from the GDR (East Germany). Now, as punishment, she has been transferred from Berlin to a small hospital out in the country, far from everything. Jörg, her lover from the West, is already planning her escape. Barbara waits, keeping to herself. The new apartment, the neighbors, summertime, the countryside – none of that means anything to her. Working as a pediatric surgeon under her new boss Andre, she is attentive when it comes to the patients, but quite distanced toward her colleagues. Her future, she feels, will begin later. But Andre confuses her. His confidence in her professional abilities, his caring attitude, his smile. Why does he cover for her when she helps the young runaway Sarah? Does he have an assignment to keep track of her? Is he in love? But as the day of her planned escape quickly approaches, Barbara starts to lose control. Over herself, her plans, over love.
Awards
- Silver Bear - Berlinale IFF
- Best Debut Film - Louis-Delluc Award
Labels & Line Ups
Credits
- Cast
- Nina Hoss
- Ronald Zehrfeld
- Rainer Bock
- Christina Hecke
- Screenplay
- Christian Petzold
- Cinematography
- Hans Fromm
- Editing
- Bettina Böhler
- Music
- Stefan Will
- Sales
- THE MATCH FACTORY
- Production
- SCHRAMM FILM KOERNER & WEBER
Press

Christian Petzold
Germany
Born in Hilden on September 14, 1960, he has lived in Berlin since 1981. He studied German language and literature before studying at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (dffb) from 1988 to 1994. He made his first feature film in 1995.