Farberbock's direction is absolutely stunning, capturing the period with real drama and artistry as the sophisticated Berlin society comes undone under Allied bombing, while the Nazi police pull it apart from within. Performances are translucent and fascinating, and the story is told with a real sensuousness that never gets tawdry. But the plot does meander a bit, drifting in circles and struggling to resolve itself clearly until the very nicely played final sequence, set in the present when two old survivors (Keller and Mladeck) reunite to finally put their lives back together.