User Reviews

Can we choose when our great period is going to be? I don't think so. But for many filmmakers it comes at the right time, right along with the Zeitgeist: Godard in the 60s, Scorsese in the 70s... Kaütner, however, had the great misfortune to have his great period right in the middle of the Third Reich. But the man is a real filmmaker, and this is one of his best.

The camera glides like Ophuls'. It spies, it imposes, it takes a respectful distance. As in the films of the true greats, objects take on so much meaning - almost a life of their own. And Franziska is a really interesting character: a forward, modern woman (she cuts right to the chase as far as spending the night is concerned) and a self - sacrificing perfect Nazi Frau - both at the same time.That first night is so-o-o sexy! And the matching trench coats - so cool! And the farewells at the train station - so epic. Beautiful!

Is this a "Nazi movie"? All films are ideological. Germany - in this film - is clearly associated with ROOTEDNESS - all else, everywhere else, with rootlessness. But, while the film critiques this rootless life, can we imagine a disenfranchised segment of a contemporary German audience noticing how attractive this rootlessness is made, what with groovy music, sexy women, lots of drinking and dancing...? Lines to be read between? Kaütner's films seem lightly transgressive, albeit lightly enough that they could be made...

The "Good German" Christoph is such a submissive, weak character - steadfast, OK, but so bloodless! But maybe that's ideological, too: REAL men are wanderers, no matter where they wander. And real women stay put at home. Sounds pretty Nazi to me! It's not that far from Harlan and Opfergang... In the last half hour the film proceeds towards its ending, towards the only overtly Nazi scene. Various possible outcomes arise, especially when, at the fourth train station leave taking, Franziska and Michel keep missing each other. I guess we could quote the great Douglas Sirk: "You don't believe the happy ending, and you're not supposed to". But what other ending could there have been in Germany in 1941, anyway?

I've been watching a lot of Kaütner lately. Fascinating. He is really due for a serious revival. A Criterion box? That would shake some things up. Imagine the great sociological discussions that would barely deal with the films themselves at all! Well, I'd rather not. But there's a lot to talk about.

In fact nothing noticeable until the end.the plot concerns a women who falls in love with a busy photographer and has to wait until he comes back from his job.Marianne Hoppe plays Franziska, an Isolated young women ,who live in a small town.Her Father,who runs an antique shop, Professor Tieman,played by Fritz Odemar, of Kitty and the world conference fame, who owns an antique shop.Rudolph Fernau,who plays D.r.Leitner, whom I thought was the director himself Helmute Kautner, is engaged to Franziska.She is a artist wood cutter who makes minuter trains and characters. Hans Sohnker,plays Michael,express as Mihail, who is a busy photo journalist who chases her.They end up having an affair in his place.But the time comes when he has to go to his work.She then tells him good bye.She then decide to live on her own, at the protest of her father.She room mates with Ursual Herkings.He show sup again but this time he proposes to her and then get Married. But he leaves again and this time for the New York news.The Nazi Version of the United States.When she going to send him a message for her pregnancies , she gets message from him that he has got a job in New York, so he won't be home for a while.As he's boozing it up at an American night club,he finally read the letter about her baby and tries to get his boss ,played by Hurber Hubner,with his nasal twang,to cancel his contract , so Michael can go home, but he doesn't .He coworker with his best friend .Buck ,played by Hremann Speelman,He finally get some to see his son ,now 1 years old. then he leaves.Fran can't put up with this.Back at the New York company, he meets fellow journalist Helen,played by Margo Heilscher. she tries to seduce him. Before you know it he comes back and get's her pregnant again Eventually she can't put up with this so she tries to get a divorce.Her second child doesn't mean much cause he ,her husband dos bot stay too long with her.After his Friend Buck died during the shooting of japan and China, He decides to go home and stay their,Fran is glad to see him but she has changed.their side hit Poland and now she has become A Nazi patriot .She encourage in his duty now he's working for the Nazi corps .Excellent digital print with subtitles. available at germanwarfilms,cin 05/11/12