Intercultural Communication

A list of films that can be interpreted from the point of view of cultural dimensions

1. Lost in Translation (2003) - Edward T Hall's high context vs. low context culture, Hofstede's
Individualism/Collectivism, Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Masculinity/Femininity
2. Amélie (2001) - Fons Trompenaars' universalism vs. particularism, Hofstede's Masculinity/Femininity,
Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism/Collectivism
3. Bend it Like Beckham (2002) - Fons Trompenaars' achievement vs. ascription, Hofstede's
Individualism/Collectivism
4. Spirited Away (2001) - Edward T Hall's high context vs. low context culture.
5. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - Edward T Hall's high context vs. low context culture, Power Distance,
Uncertainty Avoidance
6. The King's Speech (2010) - Masculinity vs. Femininity, Edward T. Hall's High/Low Context, Power
Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism/Collectivism
7. Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) - Geert Hofstede's Uncertainty Avoidance and Power Distance
8. Freedom Writers (2007) - Geert Hofstede's Uncertainty Avoidance and Power Distance
9. The Namesake (2006) - Geert Hofstede's Individualism vs. Collectivism, Trompenaars'
Achievement/Ascription
10. The Intouchables (2011) - Edward T. Hall's High-Context Culture, individualism vs collectivism, Geert
Hofstede's Power Distance, Fons Trompenaars' Achievement vs. Ascription
11. The Kite Runner (2007) - Geert Hofstede's Power Distance and Masculinity vs. Femininity
12. Goodbye Lenin! (2003) - Fons Trompenaars' Universalism/Particularism, Power distance, high vs low
context, Uncertainty Avoidance, Collectivism/Individualism
13. Triangle of Sadness (2022) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power Distance,
Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context
14. A Clockwork Orange (1971) - Edward T. Hall's Monochronic/Polychronic, Hofstede's
Masculinity/Femininity
15. Brick Lane (2007) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power Distance,
Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context, Monochronic vs. Polychronic
16. A Separation (2011) - Uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs femininity, High Context vs Low Context,
Time Orientation
17. The Lives of Others (2006) - Uncertainty avoidance, Masculinity vs Femininity, Edward T. Hall's
High/Low Context, Geert Hofstede's Power Distance
18. Talk to Her (2002) - Uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs femininity
19. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) - Power distance, individualism vs collectivism, Hofstede's Uncertainty
Avoidance
20. Amores Perros (2000) - Geert Hofstede's Masculinity/Femininity, Fons Trompenaars' Universalism vs.
Particularism
21. The Big Lebowski (1998) - Edward T. Hall's High/Low Context, Fons Trompenaars' Achievement vs.
Ascription, Individualism/Collectivism
22. Angst essen Seele auf (1974) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power
Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context, Monochronic vs.
Polychronic
23. Gegen die Wand/Head On (2004) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power
Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context, Monochronic vs.
Polychronic
24. Auf der anderen Seite (2007) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power
Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context, Monochronic vs.
Polychronic
25. Soul Kitchen (2009) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power Distance,
Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context
26. Die Fremde (2010) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power Distance,
Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context
27. The Gods Must be Crazy (1980) - Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Power
Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, High-Context vs. Low-Context: High-Context, Monochronic vs.
Polychronic
General questions for evaluating a film
• What is the film about? Summarize the film.
• What genre is the film—for example, is it a drama, a historical drama, a comedy, a thriller, or a
documentary?
• What is the message of the film?
• Whose point of view is shown in the film?
• Who are the different characters portrayed in the film?
• Is the film based on a book? Who is the writer?
• Who is the director?
• Who are the actors? Do they play their parts convincingly?
• In your opinion, is the film structured in a way so that the audience can follow the plot easily?
Does it manage to uphold suspense?
• How would you describe the language used in the film and the actors’ way of speaking?
• How did you feel watching the film?
• Were there any images or sounds you found particularly impressive?
• Which scene(s) do you find most memorable?
• What do you think of the ending of the film? If there were a sequel to the film, how would you
like the story to continue?
• How would you rate the film? For example, was it entertaining, funny, instructive, sad, trite,
etc.?

Questions for evaluating the intercultural aspects of a film

• What cultural aspects, values, attitudes, and behaviors of the respective cultures are shown?
• Do you think the conflict in the film could also occur in your community?
• What is the conflict about? How does the conflict evolve? Is it resolved?
• Could the conflict have been avoided or resolved differently?
• Does the film help you better understand the particular community?
• To which character(s) do you relate most? Why?
• Can you understand the motives of all the people involved, even if you don’t sympathize with
them?
• Are characters portrayed as stereotypes, or are they like real-life people?
• Were you aware of the problems shown in the film before you watched it?
• How has the film changed your attitude towards the problem and/or groups portrayed in the
film? • How was the film received by the ethnic group or minority portrayed in the film?
• Could the film be set in your culture as well?
• Explain all the cultual dimensions that you could identify in the film.
• What are some cultural values, beliefs, attitudes, rituals, symbols and heroes that you
could identify in the movie?
• What sort of stereotypes does the film use?

SUMMARY

• What is the film about? Summarize the film: "Goodbye Lenin" is a German tragicomedy film
set in 1989, right before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The film follows the story of a young man
named Alex, whose mother, a staunch socialist, falls into a coma shortly before the Wall comes
down. When she wakes up eight months later, the doctors warn Alex that any sudden shock
could kill her, so he tries to maintain the illusion that East Germany is still functioning as it was
before.

• What genre is the film? The film is a tragicomedy.

• What is the message of the film? The film's message is that the collapse of East Germany's
socialist state was a traumatic experience for many citizens and that there were individuals who
tried to hold onto the values and traditions of the former regime even as the world around them
changed.

• Whose point of view is shown in the film? The film is mainly shown from the point of view of
Alex, the protagonist.

• Who are the different characters portrayed in the film? The main characters are Alex, his
mother, his sister, and his friend, Denis.

• Is the film based on a book? Who is the writer? No, the film is not based on a book.

• Who is the director? The director of the film is Wolfgang Becker.

• Who are the actors? Do they play their parts convincingly? The main actors in the film are
Daniel Brühl, Katrin Saß, Chulpan Khamatova, and Maria Simon. They all played their parts
convincingly.

• In your opinion, is the film structured in a way so that the audience can follow the plot easily?
Does it manage to uphold suspense? Yes, the film is structured in a way that the audience can
follow the plot easily, and it does manage to uphold suspense.

• How would you describe the language used in the film and the actors’ way of speaking? The
language used in the film is German, and the actors' way of speaking is authentic and believable.

• How did you feel watching the film? As an AI language model, I don't have emotions, so I
don't have feelings about the film.

• Were there any images or sounds you found particularly impressive? The soundtrack of the
film is notable, as it features music by the German composer Yann Tiersen.

• Which scene(s) do you find most memorable? One of the most memorable scenes in the film is
when Alex and his friend, Denis, create a fake news broadcast to convince his mother that the
socialist state is still functioning.

• What do you think of the ending of the film? If there were a sequel to the film, how would you
like the story to continue? The ending of the film is bittersweet, as Alex's mother finally learns
the truth about the fall of the Wall. If there were a sequel to the film, it could explore the
challenges of reunification and the ways in which former East German citizens adjusted to life
under capitalism.

• How would you rate the film? For example, was it entertaining, funny, instructive, sad, trite,
etc.? The film is entertaining, funny, and instructive, as it provides a unique perspective on the
collapse of the socialist state in East Germany. The film also touches on themes of family, love,
and loyalty.

• What cultural aspects, values, attitudes, and behaviors of the respective cultures are shown?
The film shows the cultural aspects, values, attitudes, and behaviors of East German socialist
society and how they contrast with the capitalist West.

• What is the conflict about? How does the conflict evolve? Is it resolved? The conflict in the
movie revolves around the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the East German
communist regime. The main character's mother is a staunch supporter of the regime and falls
into a coma before the fall of the wall. When she awakens, her son fears that the shock of the
regime's collapse could cause her to have a fatal heart attack. He decides to shield her from the
truth by recreating the communist state in their apartment, including fake news broadcasts,
products, and even a staged visit by a cosmonaut. The conflict evolves as the son tries to
maintain the illusion while facing the challenges of a changing society. The conflict is resolved
when the mother discovers the truth and decides to accept the changes in her country and
reconcile with her son.
• Could the conflict have been avoided or resolved differently? The conflict could have been
avoided if the mother had not fallen into a coma or if the son had decided to tell her the truth
immediately. However, given the circumstances, the conflict was resolved in the best possible
way, with the son being able to reconcile with his mother.

• Does the film help you better understand the particular community? Yes, the film provides a
glimpse into the life of people in East Germany before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It
portrays the challenges faced by those who were deeply invested in the communist regime and
how they struggled to come to terms with its collapse.

• To which character(s) do you relate most? Why? I can relate to the son, Alex, because he is
trying to protect his mother from the truth and maintain her happiness, despite the challenges he
faces. His love and dedication to his mother are admirable, and his efforts to create an illusion to
keep her happy are touching.

• Can you understand the motives of all the people involved, even if you don’t sympathize with
them? Yes, the movie does a good job of showing the different perspectives of the characters,
including those who support and those who oppose the communist regime. It helps the audience
understand their motives, even if they don't sympathize with them.

• Are characters portrayed as stereotypes, or are they like real-life people? The characters are
portrayed as real-life people, with complex emotions and motivations. The movie avoids
simplistic stereotypes and provides nuanced portrayals of the characters.

• Were you aware of the problems shown in the film before you watched it? As an AI language
model, I don't have personal experiences or emotions, so I don't have prior knowledge of the
problems shown in the film.

• How has the film changed your attitude towards the problem and/or groups portrayed in the
film? As an AI language model, I don't have personal attitudes or emotions. However, the film
"Goodbye Lenin" is a satirical commentary on the social and economic changes that occurred in
East Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The film portrays the challenges faced by East
Germans as they try to adapt to the new capitalist system while also mourning the loss of their
old way of life. The film invites viewers to reflect on the cultural and social differences between
East and West Germany, and how they shape people's experiences and identities.

• How was the film received by the ethnic group or minority portrayed in the film? I don't have
access to information on how the film was received by the ethnic group or minority portrayed in
the film. However, the film received critical acclaim and commercial success both in Germany
and internationally.

• Could the film be set in your culture as well? The themes and messages of "Goodbye Lenin"
are universal and could be relevant to any society undergoing rapid social and economic
changes.
• Explain all the cultural dimensions that you could identify in the film. The film "Goodbye
Lenin" touches on various cultural dimensions, including the history and politics of Germany,
the cultural and social differences between East and West Germany, and the challenges faced by
people as they try to adapt to new cultural and economic systems.

• What are some cultural values, beliefs, attitudes, rituals, symbols, and heroes that you could
identify in the movie? The film portrays various cultural values and beliefs of East German
society, such as loyalty to the socialist system, respect for authority figures, and the importance
of family and community. The film also highlights the contrast between the socialist symbols
and rituals of East Germany, such as the elaborate May Day parades and the ubiquitous images
of Lenin and Marx, with the symbols and rituals of the capitalist West, such as Coca-Cola and
advertising.

• What sort of stereotypes does the film use? The film uses various stereotypes associated with
East and West Germany. For example, the East Germans are portrayed as stoic and reserved,
while the West Germans are depicted as brash and individualistic. The film also satirizes the
stereotypes associated with socialism, such as the obsession with equality and the lack of
personal freedoms, and the stereotypes associated with capitalism, such as the pursuit of material
wealth and the erosion of traditional values. However, the film uses these stereotypes to subvert
expectations and challenge viewers' assumptions about the differences between East and West
Germany.