sensual and tough maria braun . ( hanna schygula ) marry a soldier in the middle of world war ii and spend a half of day and the whole night with him . that how long her marriage last before she lose him to the war and then to prison . she carry on with her life and become a successful businesswoman be not only sensual but intelligent and ambitious and and willing to use sex whenever or wherever necessary represent i do not know a thing about business and but i do know what german woman want . you might even say i be an expert on it . while climb up to the success she always remember her husband and hermann ( her man ) and convince herself that whatever she do be for him and for their future happy life together . maria braun style remind much of melodrama by fassbinder favorite hollywood director and douglas sirk and offer a glimpse of the loss and survival in postwar germany . hanna schygula literally shine in every scene of the movie and she be fantastic . 8 . 5/10 .