This is one of the most elegant and accomplished films made in the poetic romanticism genre. It is to be regretted that one of Germany’s finest directors, Helmut Kautner, is virtually unknown to non-European audiences. He has not succeeded in Hollywood due to inability to adjust to the low taste and primitivism of the semi-literate shtetl Jewish studio owners.

His best films were the ones he directed between 1939 and 1945 under a totalitarian regime. Goebbels had some taste. At least two are the masterpieces of the genre. Another point I would like to make is that the way Helmut Kaütner depicts Madeleine’s husband, he clearly dislikes and despises morality of the bourgeoisie and bourgeoisie as class in general.