This has to be one of the best movies I have seen in a long while. It is a film that pretty much has everything and defies being categorized. I missed this film during it's limited theatrical release but I'm so pleased I finally got to see it. The film is not only a treat visually, but it also has a terrific score and some out-of-this-world performances. While Karen Allen is undoubtedly the biggest name in the film, the other actors all do great jobs. Allen, in fact, has more of a support role to Peter Coyote's schoolteacher with a past and the two great German kids. The young actor who plays Helmut is terrific and Karen Allen and Peter Coyote deliver the goods as always. If word of mouth spreads I think this film will become a big hit on home video. It has already become one of the most successful daytime premiers in BSKYB's history and it surely deserves all the great praise it is getting. You would not guess from this terrific film that it is the directors debut. While some may say that the film could have gone even further with our emotions, I think it strikes the right balance without being too sentimental. A completely fab experience! Highly recommended!