The 80ies were a very calm era in Germany. Student revolution and the terror by RAF was overcome, while the economical crisis of the 90ies was still ahead. But for some reason the people had great fear, especially of an atomic 3rd world war, which was in a way irrational.
"Am Tag als Bobby Ewing starb" treats these subjects. A mother and her son move to some kind of hippie community (new forms of living together also were quite popular) near a nuclear power plant in rural northern Germany. The mother falls in love to the leader of the community. Her son, who liked more to live in the city, has problems to adopt the new lifestyle, but he soon finds some friends. He hates the hippies and is more into drinking, shooting with rifles and stuff. So the movie - which got some good renown by German critics move on.
I personally felt some disappointment after watching this. For a satirical comedy, the movie had to much depression in it, as the community slowly decays. Also I did not like that there was sometimes so much distance between the mother and her son, as if they were no relatives. I think the goal of the movie was to portray the atmosphere in the 80ies. In this, it succeeds, but the plot is a bit pointless and awkward. I think sometimes, the more artistic German movie makers have a certain fear to give direct messages, everything is subtextual, a bit "dogma"-like, which is why they have this boring touch (for examples movies like "Halbe Treppe" or "Erleuchtung garantiert).
If you'd like to see a comedy about leftist communities, I much more recommend Moodysons' "Together", which is way more funny and elaborated. The beginning of "Together" with the naked people seems to have inspired the beginning of this movie, too.
"Am Tag als Bobby Ewing starb" treats these subjects. A mother and her son move to some kind of hippie community (new forms of living together also were quite popular) near a nuclear power plant in rural northern Germany. The mother falls in love to the leader of the community. Her son, who liked more to live in the city, has problems to adopt the new lifestyle, but he soon finds some friends. He hates the hippies and is more into drinking, shooting with rifles and stuff. So the movie - which got some good renown by German critics move on.
I personally felt some disappointment after watching this. For a satirical comedy, the movie had to much depression in it, as the community slowly decays. Also I did not like that there was sometimes so much distance between the mother and her son, as if they were no relatives. I think the goal of the movie was to portray the atmosphere in the 80ies. In this, it succeeds, but the plot is a bit pointless and awkward. I think sometimes, the more artistic German movie makers have a certain fear to give direct messages, everything is subtextual, a bit "dogma"-like, which is why they have this boring touch (for examples movies like "Halbe Treppe" or "Erleuchtung garantiert).
If you'd like to see a comedy about leftist communities, I much more recommend Moodysons' "Together", which is way more funny and elaborated. The beginning of "Together" with the naked people seems to have inspired the beginning of this movie, too.