Deutschland 83 textual analysis

Make notes under the following headings:

Technical codes – particularly mise-en-scene

Representation of East & West Germany / Family / Gender

Scene 1: Garden/BBQ scenes (East & West Germany)

4.58 – 8.20 and 34.00 – 37.20

East German family were presented as not being very wealthy but still having fun and they seemed very close where as West Germany were much more wealthy and they did not seem to be having as much fun and the whole setting compared to the East Germans was much more business like and quite dull.

There was also a slight male dominance in this scene, for example the sister and the brother seeing as the brother was speaking for the sister saying that she was having a identity crisis. The father also disagreed with his daughters choice of music instead of supporting her. The way both families were dressed different.

The camera work when he was in the garden was extremely dramatic and created tension which was done deliberately. 

Scene 2: Martin/Moritz first sees the West German supermarket 

14.30 – 20.25

The whole house in West Germany is shown through the wide shots and we can see how it is a big difference from the house in East Germany, we can see the staircase and the props in the background. The costume also shows a big change from casual, dull clothing to stylish, bright clothing. The scene starts with gloomy music in the background and then it starts getting fast paced when he is running. When he enters the supermarket the lyrics of the pop song go with his situation ( being used and abused). 

Scene 3: Training montage scene when Martin/Moritz learns how to be a spy

20.40 – 22.40

There is lots of fast paced editing close ups, split screen, jump cuts, and shots taken through objects e.g through glass, through mirror which creates more of a spy theme. There is use of upbeat non-digetic music which makes the scene feel even more rushed and emphasizes everything he must learn in a short amount of time. 

Reminds people of a basic spy film scene e.g James Bond

Scene 4: Briefcase scene when Martin/Moritz is stealing the NATO nuclear plans

31.13 – 33.30

The scene begins with the camera looking through the blinds which made it feel very spy and close ups of the lock which built up tension and then when he is looking through the documents there is close ups on all the important bits of information. The low angle shots let us see how nervous he is even better because we can see his face and the high angle shots that seem like CCTV is watching him. The non-digetic music builds up suspense and the digetic sound of him breathing creates exaggeration. The audience like the fact that it is quite risky and we wanna know if he'll get caught however we do not want him to (personal relationship).