I need to point out that I've not seen Heimat 1, nor 2.
However, I would say that with much recent changing history in Germany; the fall of the Wall, monetary unification and US military bases withdrawing, this hardly seems to matter, as it's all fairly fresh in the mind. We (us Brits) also view it all as slight outsiders as real people (well, fictionalised actors) are affected by those changes and that gives us a freshness, a keenness as another country's scenarios are new to us.
I thought it would plod, be very proper and maybe a bit righteous. However, it was fresh, breezy and superbly presented with a vibrant colour and excellent sound. Acting too, is first rate.
I found myself being swept along with the various characters involved, their almost normal activities keeping it real, but also compelling, as we can relate to their family and business issues. Then, a change of scene, location, and new people the story branches off and you enjoy that route. Cleverly, though, the sub-plots seem to relate or interlink with characters manifesting themselves just as you'd nearly forgotten them.
If I recall, I viewed all of it just over a year ago, over one week. Though it changed its pace from thriller to intense drama, it was never boring. I wasn't riveted to all of it 100%, possibly one can't, with so much going on and human nature warms us to threads that hold particular interest to each of us differently.
Naturally, I'd like to see the original, first and critically most acclaimed box set. This, the second and my third part are collector's items and expensive ones at that. Ones to show off to any knowing and adventurous movie/DVD collector. You'll be comforted in knowing that you're almost unique owning one, let alone having watched it all and even more than that, been thoroughly and decently entertained by it. Now, that IS a talking point...
