Christmas Eve setting in contempo Berlin sets the cliche alarm bells ringing, as several strands are initially connected by the voiceover of two breakfast radio announcers. Of the half dozen threads on offer, the one with the most resonance concerns lonely, long-widowed, subway train driver, Otto (Klaus Gehrke) who is forced to take forthright saleswoman, Sieglinde (Karin Duwel) into his front carriage so she can make a videotape for a sponsored child in Africa. It is when passengers board Otto's train that most of the strands intersect. Except for the aforementioned yarn, the prevailing air of tragedy feels forced. Thesping has an under-rehearsed stiffness. Helming is pro, even if DV lensing has standard murky look. Other tech credits are on track.

Camera (color, DigiBeta-to-35mm), Peter Steuger, Jorg Gonner; editor, Anna Kappelmann; music, Beni Reimann; production designer, Indra Besing. Reviewed at Berlin Film Festival (Perspektive Deutsches Kino), Feb. 17, 2006. Running time: 106 MIN.