It is a great film! It would not be good to put it up on my "favorite movies of all time" list but it is definitely worthy of being on my favorite "German films" list. This goes alongside the German greats such as Downfall, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, and Wings of Desire. It is a great film on the realities of communism and the constant discomfort people had to live with while being subject to the Soviet regime.