a german book prize in two thousand and eleven. the film version the stills the epic novel into a single day. friends and comrades gather to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of communist hero. but it's one nine hundred eighty nine and everybody but vilhelm suspects that east germany is cracking up. and it was his decision but it is a concern and that's why. the best conditioning by turns both funny and sad the director captures the feel of the novel the gloomy decline of east germany just before the fall time travel to a country that no longer exists. in sicily put it is about. that's what we've missed this is to prevent us from. satire is one of the hardest saunders to get right whether in literature or in film our number two pick walks that fine line between wit and provocation daring us to laugh at the worst man in