Review of Schwester Agnes

This is one of those films you need to see if you want to understand the German psyche. Schwester Agnes is one of those stalwart characters who carries her suffering in her face and in her voice - life is miserable and she shows it. Never having had sex, she dedicates herself instead to the local community, but as a "I-know-better-than-anyone-else" busybody, who only wants the best for everyone, she comes into conflict with the local communist council (of which she is a member) over the most trivial of matters. The story is remarkable for being so uninteresting and yet managing to reflect the quintessence of the German character. What takes place in this rural setting in East Germany could equally have taken place in West Germany. Communist bureaucracy - but it could have been any system - is seen to sit comfortably on the shoulders of these people. There are some wonderful touches: Nobody actually enters Agnes' house, they all just open her bedroom window (sometimes while she's getting ready for bed) and talk to her from outside. Twin children are given priority treatment over non-twins by Agnes. is this some kind of Communist message? And Agnes on her motorbike is a real hoot, especially in muddy terrain (OK, it was