Dotsthavesp I wanted to but couldn't!

MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Lucia Ayala It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de) There may be many pretty good German films about the life in East Germany before the Fall of the Berlin Wall (mostly of course the Oscar-winning "Das Leben der Anderen"), but there are at least as many forgettable films on the subject too. This one here that runs for slightly over 90 minutes with credits and shows us what life was like in the official army of the GDR, but definitely in a comedic approach. If you know writer and director Leander Haußmann, then you will know that he usually gives his movies a comedic approach while telling the audience some facts and snippets in terms of history and life back then. And this is also exactly what he does here. But it is not a successful approach really. I never really cared for any of the characters and honestly, in terms of historic knowledge, the film has almost nothing to offer unfortunately.But it is not all Haußmann's fault. The biggest problem actually may be lead actor Kim Frank here. There is obviously a reason why he has not acted before of after this film. He was a really successful musician back then with his band "Echt" and some considered him a bit of a young Campino. But acting is definitely not his strength. His approach to the role felt completely lackluster and his line delivery was monotonous enough to talk you into sleep. It always sucks if people get cast because they are famous in other areas, but then have absolutely nothing to offer in terms of range or making his character work. The supporting cast is certainly better without delivering any greatness either. Buck was fun to watch at times though. Not enough, however, to make up for the weaknesses in storytelling and Frank's performance here. I do not recommend the watch.

selbaer to understand the movie and notice all the little details you have to know the NVA and must have served, forget all the comments of the west Germans, they will never understand because they just haven't been there...just the scene with all the "ufo's", radios and the bottle of "pfeffi" in the office of the "spiess" is worth it or cleaning up the the leafs in the wind, i have been there...so all together its a great movie for the east Germans10 plus from mewinx from Florida

andrea I do not agree with the previous comment. I found this movie really enjoyable: I am aware of the fact that the plot may seem a bit flat, sometimes, but I nevertheless think that it is entirely beside the point. I mean, this movie's purpose is to represent comic (and less comic) sketches that may really have happened in a DDR Army Headquarter, with the harshness of life or the stubbornnes of some figures and such sort of things. Kim Frank's way of acting is not bad at all! I mean, I think he represents an unconventional youngster - perhaps a bit naive - that is suddenly uprooted: he has lo leave his music, his love... We could say his facial expression only corresponds to this dismay, this delusion or perhaps the incapability to accept reality in general.

zuriel Here's a short summary of N.V.A:Jung Henrik Heidler (Kim Fischer) wants to serve his time in the military as inconspicuous as possible. His comrade Krüger (Oliver Bröcker) in contrast will try anything to oppose his superiors and prove that he is definitely not a soldier. But none of these two strategies comes out even: Henriks girlfriend brakes up and he falls in love, again, with in another girl, while his friend and comrade Krüger has to pay the price for his rebellious behavior towards his superiors and their ideology. My comment: Well, I just saw this movie and I must say I it didn't really knock me off my feet. It has some funny moments in it but all in all I can tell that it's not really my kind of humor. The jokes are not subtle enough as I would have liked it in connection with the topic, everything is just too obvious and that seems to make it a comedy that is too much dull. The topic itself, I think, is good and interesting but the film couldn't convert this properly. I always have lived in West Germany so I don't really have an appropriate idea about the NVA. But I can imagine that these jokes are based on actual customs and probably experiences of Leander Haußmann. So, if you forget the jokes this might be a good and authentic movie about serving time in the NVA . But one thing that was really, really bad in this film was the acting of Kim Fischer. You see, this guy is the singer of a German pop band named "Echt". His music is not my taste either but this is just the way I feel about it. But this guy just shouldn't act and I am sure that everybody who saw this movie will agree. Maybe he just needs some more practice and experience (this is his first film). But he definitely wasn't ready to play a leading part in a big German blockbuster when they shot NVA . Altogether I give it 5 points.