Loved it on a different level

In addition to the story line, it's the atmosphere, i.e., look and feel of this movie, that attracted and intrigued me. Having traveled to and through the Soviet bloc countries during the Cold War, this film completely captures the stark, cold, dingy, and faceless reality of Eastern European "socialism" from the 50's through the 70's. The use of black and white as almost film noir was most appropriate.

Rooms, cells, and general indoor atmosphere was surprisingly authentic. I can always tell when western movies attempt to portray stark socialist reality, and they usually fail miserably. I particularly liked the GDR courtroom scene. The female tribunal judge could not have better represented austere socialist authoritarianism than she did.

And of course Oskar Werner, an incredibly talented, intense and sensitive Austrian actor who played Fiedler to perfection.