This movie is without a doubt, the worst steaming nut-filled turd I have seen in YEARS.Apart from the fact that this caricature of a movie doesn't even attempt to take the bombing of Dresden seriously, it tries to make up for its historical inaccuracy with a highly improbable "love story". When I say "improbable love story" I mean something that would not happen in a million years.Most of the movie revolves around 2 characters, Anna and Robert. Anna is a German nurse who in the first few scenes of the movie expresses her disgust towards Americans and their "campain of terror". Laughable, considering that it was in fact the British who started bombing civilian areas in WW2. Anyway... Rober on the other hand is a British pilot who happens to get shot down over Dresden and after a rough landing decides to nonchalantly hide inside a German hospital where Anna works.Long, tedious and nauseating story cut short, Anna falls in "love" with him and decides to take her panties off and let him have some fun while her intelligent and hard working fiancé is probably out there somewhere healing injured German soldiers. Later on she decides to dump her fiancé altogether and run off with this charming(not) Brit and... the rest is not even worth mentioning. Stories like that belong on the corner of streets "Possibility 0%" and "downright creepy".Apart from the cheesy romance, if you can even call it that, the movie completely fails to capture the true horror of the 1945 Dresden bombing. The scenes are rushed, the special effects are completely and utterly crap and acting so wooden, it belongs with movies like Wiseau's 'The Room' and Ed Wood's 'Plan 9: From Outer Space'.This movie is a complete insult to the survivors of the Dresden Bombings and if you're looking for a decent war movie... then go watch "Das Boot" or "Downfall" but please, stay away from this one.

Even though this German television film is high melodrama, its quality and insight overcome any clichés that might appear in the plot. World War II in Europe is on the wane. Germany is basically defeated but refused to give up. On a mission into Germany an English bomber pilot and his crew are shot down. Those who do not initially die in the crash are killed by villagers all save the pilot who manages to escape. Wounded, he seeks shelter in a hospital and is discovered by a nurse. She hides him and gives him medical help. She soon discovers that he understands her, because his mother was German.The pilot is dumped into a melodramatic mess in which the father of his savior nurse - the head of the hospital - is withholding pain killer from the wounded German soldiers and citizens in order to sell them on the black market and buy his family a way out of Germany before the inevitable defeat. Not only that, the nurse's intended is a self-serving coward. It seems that the only one around who lives up to the German ideals is the wounded British pilot. Needless-to-say, a love affair blossoms between the nurse and the pilot.But surrounding all of this melodrama is the story of Dresden written and produced by Germans whose view of the situation and the lives of the everyday citizens of a city that will soon become an incredible, flaming oven of death is insightful and horrifyingly realistic.This film was excellently produced with a quest for accuracy - an accuracy that is hard to view but one that is necessary for anyone who contemplates the inhumanity of war. It is clear that the bombing of Dresden was more of a punishment of Germany rather than an attack needed to end an already devastating war.There is much to learn in the special features of the DVD that add to the rewards of the film. If you - like myself - knew of the firebombing of Dresden, have read a little, but didn't know much more, I think you will find this a worthwhile viewing. Plus, there's a nice love story with agreeable actors.

Following a friend's advice, I just finished watching "Dresden"."Dresden" deals with two major themes: one dealing with the war itself, showing the German civilians living day to day in fear of severe retaliation on behalf of the British RAF. It also shows how the British pilots, who risk their lives to bomb the enemy, and how ruthless the Nazi's were.The other theme is a fragment of the previous theme, showing a love-story between a stranded British pilot and a German civilian nurse working in a local hospital during the war.Hence of course why this film is called "Dresden"; not because of the city but because of anyone and anything taking place in the city of Dresden.Also worth to mention is that "Dresden" is unlike other Hollywood movies dealing World War 2. It's not meant to only entertain the viewer but to educate as well. This is partially done by some intense dramatic moments and painful, shocking detailed images.About the rest of the movie; I was surprised by the good acting performances done by a relative unknown cast. At least I don't know any of them. It also was quite obvious that a large budget was available, looking at the good quality of production when keeping in mind that "Dresden" is 'only' a TV-movie.Conclusion: if you want to learn something more about World War 2 while 'witnessing' it from another point of view and at the same time enjoying an intriguing story about two 'enemies' falling in love, then "Dresden" is something for you.If you want American patriotism, a single sided view on World War 2 and lots of entertainment, then I'm sure that there are plenty of Hollywood-films out there.My score, keeping in mind it's 'only' a TV-film: 8 out of 10.

As an English man living in Germany, it was interesting to see a German made production on the historical events surrounding the bombing of Dresden. One needs to understand, this is not a documentary, it is for the masses, so one should treat it as such. As an Englishman in Germany, I always hear one side, the Brits were war criminals, it, the bombing should never have been allowed. I mention this to my British relatives and friends and they have completely the opposite view. To give credit, the film provides both sides of the argument. It shows Bomber Harris giving his opinions as well as the reservations of some of his subordinates. It shows the horror of the bombings on the civilians. It shows the persecution of many persons including Jews and the extreme depravity of the Nazi regime. Combined with a rather hard to believe love story (Robert appearing at Anna's engagement party, dressed as a Nazi), it was fun entertainment backed by some significant history. Remember, as a love story with some history, it reached a much larger target audience than a pure documentary would have done. And it was entertaining and a tear jerker, at least for my wife. So lay off, it's good decent entertainment, whilst bringing over some of the historical background.