Solo Sunny

In my western German view, it's a movie about a not very smart woman, with a talent for singing, surrounded by mostly not especially intelligent people, in a communist country where intelligentsia was either toeing the one-party-line or regarded with suspicion. Apart from a few easily recognizable and unrealistic propaganda statements, certainly necessary to help the film pass censorship, it's probably an honest depiction of the life of mediocre musicians in a country where art and culture where regulated by the state. It's also very boring, because there was no freedom to do interesting things and no such opportunities anyway, I guess. If you're not especially interested in life in the former GDR, stay away from this sad example of top-down imposed mediocrity or you will regret you wasted your time on this.

The movie is about the role of women in the GDR... basically, women were craving for independence and appreciation. Sunny, the lead character, tried her best to survive in a very hostile place/group. The men in her life were actually seen as the antagonists. The character development was at times inconsistent... Contradiction could also be observed in that movie like Sunny, having been developed as an independent character, needed someone, like Ralph, to fill the space or emptiness...

Although I am a feminist myself, I didn't like the character of Sunny because in the movie, she was seen as a very irresponsible woman... a woman of the world... a woman who didn't care about the people around her... a modern woman...

The movie is a bit dragging and exasperating at some point... but nevertheless, it is a movie about changes and realizations...

Other Konrad Wolf films tend to handle political/war issues.. this one is more about day to day life in GDR. Toss in a bit of personal ambition/desire and you have a very unique film addressing career issues of 1970's Berlin. Filled with questions about the entertainment industry, women's issues, sexual liberation and more.....

Solo Sunny is not only an exploration into class issues (that where supposedly abolished by the GDR) but one into the existential meaning of why any of us are on this planet, no matter what our religion, nationality, ethnicity or gender. It is important to realize that Sunny represents, if only symbolicaly, many of the non- mainstream GDR citizens in her quest to realize her dreams.

Or is it space? Well no pun intended either way. The way the movie starts off, I felt this is a music documentary ... but we are just being introduced to the main character. And she is quite good at what she is doing. But can she succeed with music? I mean I reckon most have the experience ... to have heard either ones inner voice or the parents or someone else telling us ... you sure that is what you wanna do? That won't work in the long run - and all that.

While progress is being made of course, women still have it worse than men, when it comes to that. And this drama is showing that (to a degree) ... slow paced and "burned" ... well no pun intended here either. A decent movie with good performances.

Sunny is a singer in a roving band. She has a restless life. She is single and she lives on her own. She seeks her individual self-fulfillment. She shows her individuality by living a bohemian life, wearing glamorous makeup and acting provocatively most of the time. She has a feisty personality. Sunny has one ambition: to be a star. Throughout the film, she gets ready for a big solo performance.

I like the way she was portrayed. Her rebelliousness has a certain appeal which adds to the charm of the movie. DEFA's female characters are often portrayed as regular workers. They have no glamorous trappings. In spite of Sunny's "glamor," (as required by her singing job) we can still see that she works hard. Unlike Hollywood films, DEFA women characters are not portrayed as temptresses, vamps etc.