1st problem: It is a film which uses important historical events to undeservedly give weight to an unrelated, banal and unengaing story. Easy and, in my mind, incredibly immoral.

2nd problem: Casting Kate Winslet to play a German woman and her abysmal accent. Either make the film in German, cast a German actress, or at least just get Winslet to speak normally.

3rd problem: The unbelievable jump between Michael Berg's character played by David Kross and then Ralph Fiennes, not only the shift in accent but the physical dissimilarities.

4th problem: The casting in general.

5th problem: The passing shots which are given no background and yet are symbolic of sweeping statements which need justification. (The woman on trial knitting. The Jewish camp survivor's excessive affluence.)

6th problem: Yet another terrible film (see Revolutionary Road) which is receiving the eulogy of the Oscar farce. This year seems to be much worse than usual.

The only positive comment I can make: David Kross' acting is very strong and the film does not deserve him.