There seem to be many critical voices about "Downfall" or "The Lives of Others", but they are not as many as the supporting ones. I think it's more an issue of how they handle politics than anything else. But I haven't watched these two films yet (not really interested) so I probably shouldn't open my mouth too wide.
Nevertheless i thought Hirschbiegel's "The Experiment" (2000) to be a very good "commercial" effort. And it's abvious that films with a "hot" topic will get more viewers, than arthouse productions.
What I find most troubling, is the lack of interest among critics for films by Schanelec, Khler and company. This year the attitude seems to have changed a bit -Griesebach's "Longing" for example received mostly glowing reviews - but I'm not sure this will last.

Yes, I also thought "Summer '04) very promising, though a tad too "constructed" for my liking. Martina Gedeck was excellent though, and I love the very last scene. Hope to see it again sometime.