Griffin Kobayashi (asusundevil) The cinematography and art direction of this film were absolutely gorgeous, but a series of "stuff that happened" doesn't constitute a plot. If anything, this film did an excellent job of making me think, "This is just about to pick up and really go somewhere for about two hours straight." It wasn't until the credits rolled that I shrugged and said, "Okay, when is this going to pick up and go somewhere?"All this talk of fate is garbage. If you're a film student who likes to look down your nose at people who expect a beginning, middle, and end to their movies or for a character's actions to be motivated by any kind of logic, fell free to check this out and cluck at those who point out all the flaws for "not getting it." If you're a fan of good movies, check out Tykwer's Heaven or Lola Rennt.

manoj252 The film Winter Sleepers took the audience on a twisty-curvy journey through the experiences of five people, whose lives intersected in an ironic and sometimes tragic way. The plot was somewhat Mementoesque fashion, although the use of multiple flash-backs and flash-forwards weren't employed. I was impressed to see that that this film came out in 1997, several years before Memento; I wonder if the idea for Memento was somewhat inspired by this film. The film did a good job of creating a setting that was enticing and believable. The scenery of small-town Bavaria in winter was very pastoral, and the mountain shots (presumably the Alps) were breathtaking. The lighting was soft and warm, creating the sensation of being snug despite the wintry beauty outside. The coziness and clutteredness of the character Rebecca's house also helped to create this illusion. **Plot Spoilers Ahead** I felt that the plot and/or character development could have been a bit tighter. For instance, Theo's character seems to spin in circles for a good portion of the movie, and when he finally finds his direction and decides to take action, the action he decides to take is shocking and tragic. In a twist of fate, he ends up driving Marco off a cliff for committing a crime he didn't commit. I wasn't too sad to see Marco go, given his nasty habit of cheating on his girlfriend; however, I found Theo's actions to be implausible given the previous context of his character, and his character's identity essentially was undermined. In addition to this minor flaw, there was a general failure to resolve the conflicts set forth in the film in any meaningful way. When the film ended, I was left unsatisfied and a little disappointed. I know that European movies don't always end in the same perfect-world way that most American movies do; however, I still felt that more resolution could have been achieved in this film.Overall, however, I did enjoy the film very much, and felt that the strong points outweighed the week points. I would give this film an 8 out of 10 for its ability to draw my attention with an interesting plot and likeable characters.

dvision23 I've seen a lot of films. And I'm drawn to this genre, usually. But this film was dull and torturous and definitely not innovative. The characters were each very unbelievable. Realizing I'm in the minority on this one, to the other reviewers, I'm glad it gave you some pleasure. I won't try to change your taste in movies. However, if you're over thirty, and understand the concept of needing to 'like' or identify with at least one character in a film to be moved by it, good luck. Don't say I didn't warn you. PS - one of the biggest DVD disappointments this year.CH 2/5

raymond-15 This is the first I have seen of Tom Tykwer's work. In a word, outstanding. This movie has all the necessary elements for a successful production and ensures a completely entertaining evening. The opening (and what an opening!) sets the mood..... A chilly landscape of deep snow with helicopter shots racing across treetops heavily weighed down with a recent fall.....And the music with its tremulous monotone suggests impending drama. I wait expectantly.....Into the picture comes Rene. At first glance an odd-looking guy who suffers from a kind of amnesia. He knows his name and where he lives but can't remember anything else. That's why he photographs every little incident to jog his memory. Laura who works as a hospital nurse agrees he's a bit weird but is fascinated just the same. You get the feeling he's up to something.Her friend Rebecca, an attractive blond who works as a translator is having trouble with her boy friend Marco. He's so possessive. They congregate in Laura's house where much of the dialogue takes place. Rebecca and Marco are continually arguing, falling in and out of love. These scenes are exceptional.In some strange coincidence these four characters are in one way or another involved in the aftermath of a serious accident involving two cars swerving on the slippery highway. In one of the cars a farmer who is taking his horse float to the vet. is knocked unconscious. Later he is unable to convince the police that a second car was involved. So he sets out on a mission to find the other car and the man responsible for the death of his daughter who died in hospital as a result of the accident.Marco the skiing instructor has an eye for the girls and there are some exciting scenes on the ski slopes as they engage the treacherous terrain. It's a matter of "Hold tight!" as the skiers disappear into the foggy atmosphere.The snow bound landscape is for me a most unusual setting for the drama and I enjoyed every exciting minute. The ending left me almost open-mouthed! And I'm not telling!