Es war einmal in Deutschland...

It is unfortunate that the English title is crass by comparison to the loaded meaning in the original German.

"Once upon a time" is an introduction to a story and to story telling and this is film is rich in the varieties of tales and the truths of stories. It's not quite 'Rashomon' but it does engage similar themes.

The film is well made and excellently acted with a high quality script; it offers the actors strong material and lots of shades of intention. The story takes a different angle to post war chaos and the desire for a new life after the destruction, all the while in the shadow of the ruins and the memories of those that perished.

The flow of the film keeps the attention as it bends and reveals more about the characters. The humor is mordant and expresses how people deflect pain through jokes. The leads could not be better.

It deserves attention and rewards the viewer's time.