One of the cool things about internationally-made movies is that their makers don’t feel the need to have to explain every little thing in them.  Hollywood movies too often over-explain, mostly through dialogue, perhaps because the movie-going public is considered slow to catch on to intricacies.  International films are, generally, more ambiguous and open to interpretation.  Such is the case with Barbara, which takes place in 1980 East Germany, years before Communism crumbled.

Barbara (Nina Hoss) is an attractive East German doctor seemingly banished to a small town, and watched by suspicious authorities.  She seems unhappy but never is able to express her frustration.  She gradually develops a working relationship with a kind, compassionate doctor (Ronald Zehrfeld) but remains aloof, planning to defect to the West when the opportunity arises.  But then fate complicates matters.

Christian Petzold’s film is low-key.  Barbara’s personal subjugation is almost silent, comprising of men in cars watching her house, occasional searches of her apartment, glances of people she sees in public; nevertheless, it is very real and authentic.  She is trapped — deemed untrustworthy by the State, even while she is helping people and saving lives in her job — because of some unknown transgression.  The political atmosphere is chillingly oppressive, and yet Barbara’s spirit cannot be fully cowed. Her inner defiance is what the movie is all about.

Barbara is about as anti-Hollywood as one can get.  Shots are long takes, without much extraneous camera movement.  There isn’t a gun in sight.  Virtually no tertiary character is developed.  Music is sparse, and muted.  Dialogue is fleeting, but always full of portent.  The atmosphere is oppressive because there aren’t enough people around to change it, to spark something.  Yet while people seem to be hiding, eyes seem to be everywhere.

Because it is slow and deliberate, Barbara isn’t for everyone.  But for viewers willing to challenge themselves with a thoughtful character study set in a bygone era (only three decades past), Barbara is a very rewarding film.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  26 April 2013.