Die geliebten Schwestern 2014

Farran Smith Nehme, New York Post: Graf freshens the pretty period trappings with a headlong embrace of every old-fashioned detail: omniscient narration, characters directly addressing the camera, intertitles. Read more

Scott Foundas, Variety: An unusually intelligent costume drama of bold personalities torn between the stirrings of the heart and the logic of the mind, while casting his revealing gaze upon Western Europe's bumpy transition from the 18th to 19th century. Read more

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, AV Club: This is a world where everyone is continually waiting for letters, visitors, inheritances, and a future that promises personal and political freedom; as such, it can't help but be poignant. Read more

Peter Keough, Boston Globe: If nothing else, "Beloved Sisters" is one of the most visually striking biopics around. Too bad you have to wade through so much verbiage in order to enjoy it. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: It's epic stuff, and at 170 minutes it's a commitment. Schiller seems to be blazing a trail for German uber-confidence, seeing his modern man as the grand product of all that's been right with history. Read more

Joe McGovern, Entertainment Weekly: When an occasional blast of purple dialogue is triggered (such as ''Save me from my passion!''), it only makes you wish for the unintellectual bodice ripper that the movie should have been. Read more

Boyd van Hoeij, Hollywood Reporter: The resulting menage a trois is the driving force behind this handsomely produced if occasionally rather old-fashioned feeling period drama, which plays like a soap opera in which the characters just happen to have better manners and finery. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: As lengthy and passionate as a drawn-out kiss, "Beloved Sisters" is a beautifully made romantic drama set in 18th century Germany that's smart, sensual and emotionally resonant. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: The movie is gorgeous, awash in lavish costumes and stunningly detailed sets. But it's merely a wash thematically, leaving us with 170 minutes (!) of unabashedly grandiose fan fiction. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: With its dearth of substance and its wandering focus, this is a middlebrow bodice-ripper posing as an epic that hasn't the foggiest idea of what it wants to say. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: If more historical movies were like Beloved Sisters, the term "costume drama" would be less of an insult. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: It goes down easy, like high-grade comfort food. But with revolution in the air (both literal and sexual), the ache of the three leads is enough to sweep you up. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Village Voice: Tensions mount in the film's somewhat creaky second half. Still, Graf maps these complications with deftness and sensitivity. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: Without at least the tawdry pleasure of a little bodice ripping, the film moves along sluggishly, even though it is well acted and handsomely shot. Read more