a German drama ruined by English actors

Rating: 6/10 (23 January 2009)

This is just another drama exploring the jaded topic of German guilt and redemption. Compared with some recent German films (e.g. Der Untergang, Die Weller, Baader-Meinhof Complex, and The Life of Ohers), this British made film based on a German theme lacks authenticity from several angles of view:
1) Kate Winslet's fake German accent is unbearable to listen to. Foreign accent is only applicable to a person who lives in another country. The fact is that Hanna Schmitz was a German woman living in Germany, why would she have to speak a foreign language to her fellow-countrymen in her own country? If the film is intended for English-speaking audience, English language should be spoken naturally as the story unfolds naturally. By adding German accent only make the film seem more contrived. It defeats the purpose.
2) Kate Winslet did a good job acting a simple woman with tough exterior and a soft heart. But because of her falsified accent, her acting became wooden and stilted, lacking spontaneity. Especially in the love-making scenes, both actors were slow and awkward, showing no passion at all. If you think this is the German style, then you should see "Baader-Meinhof Complex" which will give you a real picture of how Germans make love.
3) Ralph Fiennes, though beautifully acted as a mature deep-thinking person, bears no resemblance to the young Michael Berg at all.