Das Boot (1981)

The claustrophobic world of a WWII German U-boat; boredom, filth and sheer terror.

Competently made, realistic and well-cast drama that successfully conveys the claustrophobia and terror inside a war-time submarine; the production, however, was mainly intended to prove that German cinema can do it, and it shows.

Halliwell**: "Well-crafted but totally unsurprising saga of heroism and self-sacrifice; a decent view of war from the German side, designed to impress world markets. It did so only moderately."

Maltin***1/2: "Realistic, meticulously mounted nail-biter...Manages to embrace an anti-war message, as well."

Schtonk (1992)

An art forger and a journalist desperate for a big story create biggest press scandal in German history: the Hitler Diaries.

Typically unfunny German satire that doesn't realize that the true story it is based on is in itself so unlikely and wildly amusing that it didn't need the exaggerations of a comedy.

Halliwell (no star): "The heavy-handed farcical treatment of an hilarious true story provides little amusement, although it was a great success in its home country."