In mid-century Germany

This month Stephanie and I saw two surprising and good movies set in 1940s and 1950s Germany: "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" and "The Reader." I can't say much more without revealing too much of the plots. Just when you thought "Schindler's List' would be the final word in movies about 1940s and 1950s Germany, these to come along - and, in one case, reminding one of us of a couple of other movies - one set in North Africa, the other in France. Both of these are based on books - and - in the case of "The Reader" - Stephanie and two women we saw the movie with had all read the book (so not as many surprises for them). What do you think?

-- Perry