Aurora Australis Just watched this almost forgotten masterpiece on Gem, Australia's free-to-air digital channel. I'm reeling from the fact this British production was made in 1952 - seven years after the war ended. It must have shocked many people of my grandparent's generation, who fought the Nazis in WWII. Gunther tells Nicole, 'There is no war, only you and me.' But is that truly possible? Her father has been executed by the Nazis. Members of my family - civilians - lost their lives at Japanese hands during the invasion of Rabaul in January 1942. If I had been in the same situation as Nicole, could I have fallen in love with a Japanese officer through a shared passion for say ... T'ang era poetry? I very much doubt it. I visit Japan often, I love Japanese culture, but it's impossible to forget what happened to my family in Rabaul. 'Forgive, but never forget girl,' as my 92 year old great-uncle said to me not long before he died.So ... on one level, So Little Time is about a profoundly ethical question: is it treason to love one's enemy during war? On another, it is about the most fatal kind of fatal romance: when enemies fall in love. Both parties know it will end badly, but ... the heart wants what the heart wants. Was it Plato who said love is a kind of madness? For that reason Schell and Goring are compelling and believable as Nicole and Gunther - particularly Goring, who struggles with his feelings for Nicole. The film also makes it clear that like many Wehrmacht German officers at that time, Gunther perceives himself as a professional soldier, not a Nazi. We realise this in the final scene.I was deeply moved by this film. It helped me to understand why so many women fell in love with German soldiers during the occupation of France etc during WWII. Gunther is bloody sexy! Until I watched So Little Time, I don't think I really understood, because my family's experience in New Guinea skewed my judgment. Unless we are in that situation, we don't know what we would do - except hope that reason would prevail.

perrywb I researched this site to try to find out if a DVD (restored?) existing of this haunting film and discovered from the comments of viewers that many are also endeavoring to just merely obtain any copy of the film which apparently has gone off the market. I am fortunate apparently to have had a VHS copy I taped from a PBS showing a long time. I have transferred the same to DVD with good success. Perhaps copies could be obtained from PBS New Hampshire or Vermont TV stations where I think mine originated. I would gladly forward a copy of recording to interested persons for a small fee to cover DVD and shipping costs but I'm afraid that is illegal.Bill Perry

bellol I only ever saw this movie once, and that was in the late 1960's when I was doing my year 12 (back then matriculation)exams. I remember that I had a Friday afternoon exam, so my parents allowed me to stay up late to unwind. I also recall my Father exiting shortly after it started, and my Mother attempting to turn the TV off, when Nicole flung herself into Colonel Holensee's arms, because she didn't want her erstwhile enemy to leave her family mansion. Thankfully I didn't give into my Mother's discomfort, and was the only one to watch it to its tear jerking end.I had always liked Marius Goring in THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, but after seeing him in SO LITTLE TIME, I developed a schoolgirl crush on him that I have never fully recovered from. This movie has left a lasting impression on my mind after a single viewing. It was wonderful finding this web page and reading other people's responses to it. It made me realize that I wasn't as nutty as I thought I was.I would love to see this movie again, partly to check to see if any of the details I think I recall, are indeed correct. For instance I think that I remember that Colonel Holensee had an old war wound on one side of his face, which periodically gave him trouble, prompting him to pop a pill or two. Then there was Anna, the housekeeper/cook (Janet from the 1960's DR. FINLAY'S CASEBOOK)at the de Malvines' mansion, who bossed the Colonel's batman about. One scene I think I managed to confirm, is when Holensee takes Nicole to THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, they watch the final act from the wings. Shortly after that scene I think that I recall another scene at the theatre, when an old friend/flame(?)of Holensee is alone with him. She has noticed that the Colonel is smitten with Nicole, and so tells him to do something as there is "so little time". At the very end, after Holensee has shot himself (as they all did in DOWNFALL), I think that there was a shot (camera this time, not gun) of the batman wiping his glasses, and then the rain beginning to fall on some autumn leaves. One thing that I am 95% certain of is that I saw this movie on ABC TV (Australian Broadcasting Commission), as out TV was rarely turned on to other channels. I emailed them in late January this year. I received this response a week later "I am sorry to say that the ABC does not currently have the rights to screen this film. However I have noted your request and will forward it on to Television Acquisitions so that they are aware of your interest". My gut feeling is:a)the ABC still has a copy of SO LITTLE TIMEb)the copyright is held by the German company who have so annoyingly dubbed it into Deutschc)the ABC is probably not interested in buying the screening rights because they are either too expensive, or it would be a waste of staff time trying to purchase rights from a German company they don't normally deal with, or both.If anyone in Australia would like to see SO LITTLE TIME again, or indeed for the first time, please email the ABC, or write to them. Maybe if they get a number of enquiries, they might actually do something about acquiring the screening rights.

AmyLouise How sad that this film appears to have been lost - how do you "lose" such an good film?I too have only seen it once, on television - was it in the seventies? But I've never forgotten it, and always kept an eye out for it to appear on television again, especially since the advent of cable, or in video stores, but it has eluded me.I've always liked Marius Goring's work - yes, I fell in love with him in The Red Shoes - but this film was particularly strong in both story- line and casting. I've always preferred black and white film for drama, and it was just right for this romantic and ultimately tragic story.I'm rating it high, although I saw it so long ago and can't remember details, but for any film to have had such an impact that one can't forget it decades later after one viewing, means it deserves the highest rating.