Far too literary in style but useful about German guilt over WW2

Rating: 5/10 (3 April 2012)

The main themes are about German guilt over WW2 and the Holocaust going down through the generations, so we flip about between the present and 1958 and years in between. Everything is bound up with whether Germans of all generations can face up to what happened and what they did. So, after an hour of nude sex scenes between a young boy (15) representing the postWar generation and a much older woman (about 36) who obviously lived through the war (done before in so many films, eg Summer of 42, the Graduate etc) with the usual clichés of bathing scenes (to wash off guilt), she leaves suddenly - the result being a dysfunctional character (brilliantly acted as a young boy by Kross, but mournfully miserable as usual by Ralph Fiennes) who has to find himself. But he finds out that his one time lover was a Nazi Concentration Camp Guard when he attends a War Criminal trial. He is able to save her from a long sentence and discusses it with his Law Professor, but that theme disappears. But he supports her in prison, but as she is about to leave he manages to get her to face up to her guilt. Cue more guilt and tragedy, only to be cauterised by his being open with his daughter - the next generation (groan, groan). Yes, you guessed it - far too pleased with itself for its over literary adaptation, mannered stylistic approach, with metaphors for actions and guilt barely disguised in everyday happenings. Kate Winslet looks suitably haunted though not old enough to look like Fiennes' mother! But it was a sucker for Weinstein with Oscar written all over it!!!!! Some good acting but far too pleased with its' own portentousness. And we did not need Kate with her kit off so often - not required for the storyline!