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Poster for Barbara

Barbara

Seen it?

2012 | 105 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. If you loved Little Children or Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 45 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Exiled to a rural clinic in 1980s East Germany for seeking an exit visa, a disillusioned doctor maintains a guarded distance from her colleagues, unsure if the kindly head physician is a genuine ally or a Stasi informant.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.1 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    1 win and 11 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $7 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 27K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Christian Petzold

  • Nina HossBarbara
  • Ronald ZehrfeldAndré
  • Rainer BockKlaus Schütz
  • Christina HeckeAssistenzärztin Schulze
  • Claudia Geisler-BadingStationsschwester Schlösser
  • Peter WeissMedizinstudent
  • Carolin HauptMedizinstudentin
  • Deniz PetzoldAngelo
  • Rosa EnskatHausmeisterin Bungert
  • Jasna Fritzi BauerStella