A friend passed me this film, and although he was incredibly enthusiastic about it, to be honest, I didn't know what to expect. I've never really been that interested in history or the Second World War - I had enough of that at school. However, this film really made me reassess that stance - mainly because it was such a unique and unpredictable tale. Confessions of a German Soldier is an incredibly moving story, told sensitively and objectively from a fresh perspective. It's the story of one young German officer (Dietrich Karsten), and recounts a slow seduction and implication into the Third Reich's conquest of Russia. But what could draw-in a politically aware, educated, religious and moral young man? Patriotism? Esprit de corps? Nazism itself? So many fascinating themes arise, and are discussed by the documentary's protagonists, Karsten's grand-daughter, and her historian friend. Naturally and engagingly the story unfolds, but the doc has no axe to grind, no politics or clichés to peddle, it just tells, very successfully, a human story that ought to have relevance to us all. A life is traced through family letters, photographs, vivid historical analysis, and just very focused and intelligent discussion. It's thoroughly captivating throughout. The trail leads from the West to the East, and if you are not moved by the closing scenes, filmed at a battered church somewhere within the vast Russian interior, you won't be moved by anything. This is a really terrific film, and I hope it achieves a wide audience - it deserves to.