(Germany/2012—directed by Christian Petzold)
Set during the Cold War era of 1980, this tense and vibrantly intelligent new thriller from Germany’s prolific Christian Petzold is the story of a physician (Nina Hoss of Jerichow) who is exiled from East Berlin to a small rural town as punishment for applying for an exit visa from the German Democratic Republic. Plotting in secret to flee to Denmark with her boyfriend, Barbara does her best to manage a professional – though icy – persona in the presence of her colleagues, while revealing the true depths of her deep and compassionate true self only to her patients. Totally absorbing and richly satisfying, Barbara is that rare work of suspense that pins us to the edge of our seats while at the same time revealing the human side of telling – and withholding – the truth. Best Director Prize, 2012 Berlin Film Festival. In German with English subtitles. (105 min.)

“A brilliantly incisive study of what becomes of human nature when totalitarian states weave suspicion into the fabric of everyday life.” –Dimitri Eipides, Toronto Film Festival

“Astute and suspenseful.” –A.O. Scott, The New York Times

“Barbara is one terrific film, as smart, thoughtful and emotionally involving as just about anything that's out there.” -Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times