Nazi-era film surprisingly entertaining

A beautiful-looking film that sensibly focuses on the music.

There once was a band of harmonising musicians who were huge in their time, but history intervened... they were the Comedian Harmonists... It`s Berlin 1927, work is hard to find, especially for musician Harry Frommerman -Ulrich Noethen. Inspired by the American band The Revellers Harry decides to try to put his own group together, a group of harmonising singers. The first to be recruited is Robert Biberti - Ben Becker - a dynamic organiser and an eccellent bass. Through his connections the group is gathered together - it includes Bulgarian tenor Ari - Max Tidof - who thinks his voice is a magnet for women, and pianist Erwin Bootz - Kai Wiesinger. Their first audition fails but in the gloomy aftermath something new and dynamic emerges in their music... The group charmed Europe with its brand of humour and harmony, but the stormclouds were on the horizon with the rise of Naziism. Three of the group were Jewish and the tensions of the times are woven into the privates lives of the musicians, particularly when Harry, who`s Jewish and Bob who isn`t, fall for the same girl, Erna - Meret Becker. Co-writer, director, producer and cinematographer Joseph Vilsmaier has created a beautiful-looking film, he sensibly focuses on the music, approaching the growing threat of the times with restraint which is tremendously effective. David`s comments: Though not a particularly original film, this sumptuous biography is immensely entertaining. The Harmonists were a uniquely likable bunch of musicians, and their songs are still wonderful to hear. The depiction of the rise of Nazism has been done many times before, but today its message is as timely as ever. Terrific ensemble performances.