I just saw Geliebte Clara today, in an intimate theater of about 100 seats. Close to the screen, I was quickly drawn into the music and the emotion of the players. The costuming was fantastic, with rich colors and fantastic textures. Women didn't wear the most confining corsets every day, there were many different styles, and softer ones were used for traveling or daily wear. Women of lower social orders didn't wear them at all. Beyond corsets, the film had a remarkable sensitivity and cohesion I hadn't expected from the filmmakers. There was great attention to detail, and I found the cast to be highly committed to their roles. Only the actor playing Robert I found to occasionally be a little less than attentive. Martina Gedeck is now my favorite German actress. This is a must-have DVD for me.
