Aurora Australis Just watched this almost forgotten masterpiece on Gem, Australia's free-to-air digital channel. I'm reeling from the fact this British production was made in 1952 - seven years after the war ended. It must have shocked many people of my grandparent's generation, who fought the Nazis in WWII. Gunther tells Nicole, 'There is no war, only you and me.' But is that truly possible? Her father has been executed by the Nazis. Members of my family - civilians - lost their lives at Japanese hands during the invasion of Rabaul in January 1942. If I had been in the same situation as Nicole, could I have fallen in love with a Japanese officer through a shared passion for say ... T'ang era poetry? I very much doubt it. I visit Japan often, I love Japanese culture, but it's impossible to forget what happened to my family in Rabaul. 'Forgive, but never forget girl,' as my 92 year old great-uncle said to me not long before he died.So ... on one level, So Little Time is about a profoundly ethical question: is it treason to love one's enemy during war? On another, it is about the most fatal kind of fatal romance: when enemies fall in love. Both parties know it will end badly, but ... the heart wants what the heart wants. Was it Plato who said love is a kind of madness? For that reason Schell and Goring are compelling and believable as Nicole and Gunther - particularly Goring, who struggles with his feelings for Nicole. The film also makes it clear that like many Wehrmacht German officers at that time, Gunther perceives himself as a professional soldier, not a Nazi. We realise this in the final scene.I was deeply moved by this film. It helped me to understand why so many women fell in love with German soldiers during the occupation of France etc during WWII. Gunther is bloody sexy! Until I watched So Little Time, I don't think I really understood, because my family's experience in New Guinea skewed my judgment. Unless we are in that situation, we don't know what we would do - except hope that reason would prevail.

imbd-184 So Little Time is the moving WWII tale of a 20 year-old girl (Maria Schell) in occupied Belgium who falls in love with 45 year-old German commandant (Marius Goring). The movie is based on the novel 'Je Ne Suis Pas Une Heroine' ('I Am Not A Heroine') by Noelle Henry. As others have said, a German-dubbed version of the movie was released on DVD but the original English-language version was (bizarrely) never included. The German DVD title for the movie is 'Wenn Das Herz Sprecht' ('When The Heart Speaks').I definitely share the pain of all those who have searched high and low for this movie. My own search for it has taken over 5 long years and, among many things, even included contacting descendants of the starring actors. BUT NOW, some GREAT NEWS! A copy of the original English version has now been found! If you are interested, get in touch.Rob

cushybut I have loved this movie ever since I was a child when it seemed to be on television regularly in the 60s and 70s. It was also my mother's favourite film and I once arranged for it to be shown at the British Film Institute in London as a birthday gift for her.However, just wanted to tell people that it is now available on DVD in Germany. Unfortunately only a dubbed version (with no subtitles) but for someone like me who was desperate to see it again - it was better than nothing. I have absolutely no idea why this film has not been made more available within the UK, on video, or on television where it not been shown to my knowledge within the last 20 years. Once again I have loved this moving love story which given the subject matter of the film could only end the way it does. Also, it is the only film I have seen where Marius Goring was sexy!!

prof-10 I saw this film years ago and was VERY impressed.The plot is unusual in that it depicts a sympathetic relationship between an invading German officer and a Belgian girl.I'd give anything to know why this film seems not to be available.