The story of a German singer named Willie who while working in Switzerland falls in love with a Jewish composer named Robert whose family is helping people to flee from the Nazis. Robert's family is skeptical of Willie, thinking she could be a Nazi as she becomes famous for singing the song "Lili Marleen."
The meanings are banal and the pace is heavy, but Fassbinder's use of color -- as throughout his late period -- is superb.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
3 Jun 2006
fresh:
It has a wicked sense of humor, displayed in Fassbinder's two favorite opposites, understatement and hyperbole.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
3 Jun 2006
rotten:
What is new for a Fassbinder work is that the film is far more entertaining to watch than it is interesting to speculate about. That means it's a disappointment.