Barbara

The story follows Barbara, a doctor from Charité (GDR, the Soviet part of Germany) - the largest hospital and research center in Europe - who is exiled in 1980 for wanting to marry a foreigner. In the countryside, she endures humiliating surveillance (including regular personal searches), behaves alienated from those around her, and dreams of escaping abroad with her beloved, Jörg (Mark Waschke).

The GDR is meticulously reconstructed in the film; however, a detailed depiction of history is not Petzold's primary goal. As in his other films, behind the narrative simplicity and realistic detail lie the subjective, ghostly worlds of the characters – worlds of fear, hope, obsession, and paranoia.

The meeting will be hosted by philosopher and film scholar (and co-founder of the cinema) Varya Vlasova.