Berlin. Forty years from today. A roiling city of immigrants, where East crashes against West in a science-fiction Casablanca. Leo Beiler, a mute bartender has one reason and one reason only for living here, and she's disappeared...

A look at German sensitivities: the film adaptation of Helmut Krausser's bestseller Einsamkeit und Sex und Mitleid focuses on a motley crew of urbanites, all trying to cope with their romantic problems. Retired teacher Ecki runs an "anger...