In the critically acclaimed German film “Good bye, Lenin!”, a dedicated communist mother suffers a heart attack in the autumn of 1989 and is left in a coma. When she awakens, she is confronted with a world where the Berlin Wall has crumbled, Germany is on the path to reunification, and communism has collapsed. Her son Alexander takes it upon himself to shield her from the harsh realities of capitalism by creating fake news broadcasts that depict a completely different world. Inside her bedroom, the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) remains intact, while outside, Germans indulge in capitalist luxuries such as purchasing Ikea furniture, driving Volkswagens, and drinking Coca-Cola.
This theme of denial is also prevalent in British politics, particularly during the recent local elections. Despite suffering a swing against them and losing the majority of mayoral races, Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak took a victory lap in Teesside, the party’s only triumph in the elections. This victory was crucial for the Conservatives in securing a win in the next general election, as they currently trail behind Labour by a significant margin in national polls. The Conservatives are especially proud of their success in winning over traditionally Labour constituencies known as the “red wall” in the 2019 general election. Their loss in this region was therefore a significant blow to their confidence.