Goodbye Lenin! (Quotes)

„Im 1978 waren wir auf Weltniveau"

The scene where Alex and Ariane are watching Sigmund Jahn's space flight - Sign of National Pride

„Mit meiner Familie ging alles den Bach herunter"

Alex notes that everything went down hill from here. Christiane is questioned by the Stasi - true depiction of DDR life.

„Hast du schon wieder in Klamotten gepennt?"

Shows how lazy Alex has become again

„Er kam nie mehr zurück."

Alex noting how his father left him to flee to the capitalist BRD.

„ Sie war wie verwandelt"

Christiane was changed when she came home - passionate activist for the DDR.

„Meine Mutter hat sich ... mit unserem sozialistischen Vaterland verheiratet." - eine Bewältigungsmechanismus

Highlights the change in Christiane's behaviour, after the disappearance of Robert - a coping mechanism

„Eine leidenschaftliche Aktivisten für die einfachen Bedürfnisse der Bevölkerung und gegen die kleine Ungerechtigkeiten des Lebens" - eine neue Lebensaufgabe

Christiane's new purpose in life is to serve the DDR

„fühlte mich auf den Höhepunkt meiner männlichen Ausstrahlungskraft."

The scene where Alex is sitting and drinking beer - shows his lack of ambition compared to his childhood.

„Hau ab. Lass mich in Ruhe."

Christiane's response to the Stasi questioning her about Robert. Stark contrast to her loyalty to the state later in the film.

„Gobatschow würde ich gerne mal aus der Nähe sehen." „Sie feiern sich selbst die ganzen alten Säcke."

Shows the political differences between Alex and Christiane

„Pressefreiheit!"

What the demonstrators are protesting about - shows a negative picture of the DDR.

„Hören Sie auf damit!"

What Christiane shouts at the troops who are beating up the protestors, again shows another negative picture of the DDR, and the shock Christiane gets when she sees what's happening.

„Du must aufwachen."

What Alex says to his mother when she is in a coma - very similar to Alex's plea to his mum when she had her depression

„kreiste sie wie ein Satellit um das menschliche Treiben auf unserem kleinen Planeten und in unserer noch kleineren Republik."

Alex describing his mother's coma as a reference to space travel

"Meine erste kulturelle Entdeckungen in einem neuen Land."

Alex's first trip to the West, he seems excited for the change that the fall of the wall has provoked

"Guten Apetit und vielen Dank, dass sie für Burger King entschieden haben."

Ariane gives up her degree and starts to work at the capitalist institution of Burger Kin, the victory of capitalism in the East

"Rainer, Klassenfeind."

Alex's pessimism about the Ossis, contrast to previous optimism about the fall of the wall (linked to father)

"Die Verwestlichung unserer Wohnung."

A loss of their national identity and the victory of capitalism and consumerism, which Ariane personifies

"Austausch Engel aus der Sowjetunion."

Alex's description of Lara, following their reunion at the hospital

"Der Siegeszug des Kapitalismus." - Alex

Alex feels alienated in the West shows the difficulties in adapting after the fall of the wall, sceptical, pessimistic

"Die Helden der Arbeit wurden arbeitslos." - Alex

The negative effects of capitalism, the difficulties of the fall of the wall

"Der Wind der Veränderung blies bis in die Ruine unserer Republik."

The wind of change blew in to the ruins of our Republic - optimistic about the new chances available

"Die Zukunft lag in unseren Händen."

The future lay in our hands - the opportunities available after the fall of the wall

"Es ist lebensbedrohlich." - Artz

Doctor explains the dangers of taking Christiane back home, but Alex ignores him - strong maternal connection

„Das ist Wahnsinn!"

Ariane's reaction to Alex wanting to take Christiane home

„Mein Leben veränderte sich gewaltig."

Alex's reference to bringing his mother home after the coma, strong maternal bond

„Guck mal. So 'n Schrott hatten wir an."

Ariane's reaction to the old clothes they used to wear, shows the old-fashionedness of the DDR and how she has moved on

"Hat sich gar nichts verändert hier." - Christiane

Christiane's first reaction when she comes back home, ironic

„du hast von der Schule erzählt und von Sigmund Jähn."

Christiane tells Alex that this one of the main reasons why she didn't kill herself after Robert left - another reference to the importance of Space Travel in Alex's life

„Über Nacht wurde unsere graue Kaufhalle zu einem bunten Waren-Paradies. Und ich wurde als Kunde zum König."

The transformation of the Supermarket and the changing of the DDR

„So weit haben die uns schon... dass wir im Müll rumfischen müssen."

Herr Ganske showing a bit of Ostalgia

„Tut mir Leid, junger Mann. Ich bin selbst arbeitslos."

Herr Ganske doesn't help Alex, showing changing attitudes, straight after the bit of Ostalgia

„Wir waren alle wertvolle Menschen."

Said by Klapprath, it shows how important people in the DDR and are now useless in reunified Germany

„Einige Genossen im Kollektiv war sie zu... Idealistich."

Said by Klapprath about Christiane, how she didn't actually support Erich Honeker or any of the bad politicians, only ones like Gorbachev who believed in reform and progress - shows the kind of DDR Alex wants to make for his mother and the explanation behind some of the stories in his news programmes that him and Denis make.

„Ich steck meine Tochter nicht mehr in Windeln aus Plastik. Das geht zu weit!"

Ariane complaining to Alex, shows she wants to support her daughter and also how some aspects of the West are better than the East.

„Drauβen geht's voran und ich fühl mich hier so nutzlos."

Shows a comedic aspect of the film, Christiane complains how the world is moving on while watching an old Akutelle Kamera episode

"Die Klänge von gestern."

The sounds of yesterday, in reference to the mother's birthday party

„Eine Schwesternschülerin aus der SU."

Christiane's description of Lara to the party guests.

„Herzliches Glückauf Pioneere ... seid bereit seid bereit"

Rainer using the wrong greeting at Christiane's party - shows western ignorance towards the DDR

„Was hat sich verändert? Eigentlich nicht viel." - Alex

Irony with Alex saying nothing has changed whilst the Coca-Cola sign is rolled down in the background

„Mir tut deine Mutter Leid. Es ist mir zu gruselig, was du da machst." „Du meinst, wenn man sowieso lügt, ist es auch egal."

Lara showing her discontent with the lies, especially the one about her father as well, because she doesn't know when they will stop

„Ich musste nur die Sprache der Aktuelle Kamera studieren."

Alex highlighting the ease of manipulating the East German citizens and his mother through the self produced programme

„die kapitalistischen Pressezensoren."

Denis' description of the security guards trying to stop the filming outside of the Coca-Cola building - authentic DDR TV-Presenter

"Ich dachte, Cola gab's schon vorm Kreig."

Part of the comedy, this is Christiane's response to the ‚Denis-made' AK story, it is obviosuly a western drink, which makes it amusing

„Das sind 30,000 Mark! Das war unser Geld für 40 Jahre lang."

Alex's outrage at the bank's refusal to exchange Christiane's money - difficulties in adapting even with the younger generation, the difficulties of a capitalist society.

"Es ist schön, mit deiner Mutter zu reden. Man hat das Gefühl, es ist so wie früher."

Frau Schäfer also showing some Ostalgia

„Du bist genau wie deine Mutter mit ihren bescheuerten DDR-Eingaben."

Rainer again showing Western ignorance towards the Eastern way of life, saying that all she does is complain.

"Meine Mutter meckert nicht! Sie versucht, durch konstruktive Kritik der Verhältnisse der Gesellschaft schrittweise zu verändern."

Alex's response to Rainer's above comment, it shows how his opinion of Christiane's political views has changed, at the beginning of the film, he is a passive citizen who doesn't care and doesn't understand why his mum cares - and through recreating the DDR he now does.

"Ein fetter Kerl, der ständig Cheeseburger mit Pommes in sich hineinstopfte. Er hatte nichts mit mir zu tun und ich nichts mit ihm."

Alex's attitude to his father

„Das Leben in unserem kleinen Land wurde immer schneller."

Alex noting the changes after the fall of the wall and the differences to the normal DDR lifestyle

„Sie sind nicht von hier, oder?" "Nay, aus Wuppertal" "

Christiane talking to the new people moving in, who are obviously not eastern - shows her growing suspicion

„Arbeitslosigkeit, mangelnde Zukunftsaussichten und die zunehmenden Wahlerfolge der neonazistischen Republikaner." "Solidarität Westens."

The reasons that Denis states in the AK programme for the flood of refugees from the west to the DDR - authentic language. The name of the supposed campaign by the DDR government.

„Die DDR, die ich für meine Mutter schuf, wurde immer mehr die DDR, die ich mir vielleicht gewünscht hätte."

Alex's recognition that the imaginary world was starting to become his ideal version of socialism too - a change from the challenging times of his childhood

„Du bist so zynisch. Dir wär's am liebsten, wenn sie stirbt."

Alex getting annoyed at Ariane because she has a life other than looking after Christiane

„Ein Gesamtdeutsches Baby war unterwegs." - Offkomentar von Alex

A symbol for German reunification and the new relationship between the East and West

„Ich hab' euch die ganze Zeit belogen." "Ich hatte wahnsinnige Angst."

Christiane's admission of lying to her family about their father's disappearance - her only desire was to protect Ariane and Alex.

"Es war der größte Fehler meines Lebens."

A shock that the passionate DDR activist regrets not going to the capitalist west with her husband.

"Es ist ihr letzte Wunsch."

Ariane persuading Alex to go and see their father in the West, highlights his strong maternal bond.

"Da war er. Das Idol meiner Jugend: Sigmund Jähn."

Alex thinks the taxi-driver looks like his childhood idol Sigmund Jahn, a coping mechanism when everything starts to go downhill with his mother

„So flogen wir durch die Nach. Wie durch die Weiten des Kosmos... vorbei entfremden Galaxien mit unbekannten Lebensform."

Alex describing his taxi journey to his dad's house in Wahnsee, could possibly symbolise how he feels like he is travelling far away from the world of the DDR that he has recreated for his mother

„Ich komme aus einem anderen Land."

Alex speaking with his new siblings, highlighting the differences that still exist between east and west even after the wall has fallen

„Ich hab drei Jahre lange Tag auf'ne Nachricht von euch gewartet. Jeden Tag."

Robert's response to Alex asking about the brothers and sisters, it shows that Robert did wait around for them and never forgot them

„Jetzt hab ich wohl zwei neue Geschwister, oder?"

Alex talking awkwardly to his dad, his negative image of him is still there

„Sozialismus heißt, auf den anderen zuzugehen, mit dem anderen zu leben. Nicht nur von einer besseren Welt zu träumen, sondern wir wahr zu machen."

Part of Sigmund Jähn's speech, it shows what Alex now understands about his mother's passion for Socialism - it also possibly suggests what he wanted from Socialism also.

„Wie war es da oben?"

Alex asking the taxi-driver about space. Even though he knows that he is not Sigmund Jahn, he still wants to relive his fantasy.

"Die Mauer gibt es nicht mehr. Das ist einfach alles ein Land." -

Lara revealing the truth to Christiane about the fall of the wall, which Alex isn't aware of -dramatic irony

"ein würdiger Abschied."

Alex wants to give the DDR a worthy goodbye, he can recreate his ideal socialist fatherland.

„Und sieht uns als winzige Punkte auf unserer kleinen Erde. Genauso wie damals Sigmund Jähn."

Another reference to Space Travel and SJ, comparing his mother to his memories and his old idol

„Sie ist glücklich gestorben."

„Das Land, das meine Mutter verließ, war ein Land, an das sie geglaubet hatte." „Ein Land, das in meiner Erinnerung immer mit meiner Mutter verbunden sein wird."

Now his view of Socialism has changed, he can connect that to his mum as she was kind and caring about others