this film be in many way reminiscent of the english patient and even casablanca ( the love triangle in time of wwii and the beautiful cinematography and the use of a melancholy song a a central motive ) . still and the story be different enough and so that gloomy sunday stand on it own a a wonderful movie . i especially like the style and elegance . although there be a lot of passion involve there be no big emotional outburst which i find refresh for a change . the way laszlo and andras and ilona keep their dignity remind you that the 20th century could have be an age of reason and enlightenment ( even after wwi ) if there hadn not be the barbarity of fascism . on the other hand i be also grateful to the director ( and to the great ben becker ) that hans eberhard wieck isn not portray a a soulless monster . he rather seem like the dark reflection of oskar schindler to me . there be even room for some humour ( of the pitch black variety ) which be still very brave in a german film about the holocaust . while some of it can be understand everywhere ( the glass eye joke ) and other funny scene will probably be understand in germany only ( ms. häberle and her duden ) . thanks to the wonderful actor and to rolf schübel for make this film ( which should have be select a the german entry for the foreign film academy award instead of aimee und jaguar imo ) .