This film is smart enough not to let you know where the moment of tension, if any, or departure, will appear. The lead flips out when he does and for no better reason than he just flips out which makes his reactions to his situation all the better to appreciate. Herzog's other characters including the leads commandant deal with the situation in a perfectly sane manner, again surprising the viewer with their lack of all the hysterical clichés associated in movies by Kraut mannerisms. The photography in itself is like Henri Cartier Bresson was coaching Herzog. Visually, and as a screen play, you have the best combination like when Eugene O'Neil said that a play wright's job is to put people in a room and get them to talk to each other. This movie is fine sherry, it is not a champagne cocktail. The film glistens from it's lack of "get it's?"