Contra

No pun intended - Christoph Maria Herbst is on top of his game ... he clearly has the mightier than though down to a ... I am not sure what a professor would call it? But he nails it - while you could argue he is pigeon holed (I think that is what it's called when someone seems to be playing a variation of the same person/character) ... he is so good in doing just that ... that you clearly should not mind him doing just that.

The movie is meant to be the vehicle for the female star - but while they seem to be at the opposite side of the spectrum ... and they are quite different (not just background wise) ... they do need each other. I do not think the movie has many surprises for the viewer ... but it is told in a very interesting and well thought of manner ... and it works on exactly the level it tries to connect with the viewer. Tried to watch it in cinemas back then, but was not able to ... caught it on the web (streaming)