Preis der Freiheit

I watched this 3-part film a while ago, but I was very sad to see that it had no reviews, and I think it definitely deserves one.

This is a really captivating film. It portrays the last days of the GDR, and in doing so sheds light on some of the hypocrisies of the GDR state and its break with reality. It also makes known inconvenient facts about this state namely that it was partly kept alive via the financing of a decidedly non-socialist, outright capitalist business that the state itself founded and euphemistically called "commercial coordination", gathering foreign capital using all sorts of shady businesses ranging from human trafficking to arms sales, some of which are illegal wrt the GDR state law itself.

I found the performance by Barbara Auer (Margot) simply splendid. She really brought the point home about her character's careless pursuit of her own interests, all while the socialist principles she supposedly harbored went out the window. I can only compare her performance with Meryl Streep in the Devil wears Prada.

For anyone interest about topics such as the abuse of power, corruption, hypocrisy and human rights, this is a must-watch. Kudos to the actors and the direction.