The frenetic film school fuss of Tykwer's Run Lola Run (1999) didn't add up to much, but at times made for a fun ride. Winter Sleepers has none of the energy of the later movie, and all of its shallowness. A busily empty plot and dull, unappealing characters prevent any of Tykwer's occasionally interesting visuals from sticking. The movie opens with a car accident and ends with a skiing accident, and stumbles along sleepily in between. Run Lola Run suggests things are livening up a little, but in Winter Sleepers German cinema is still hibernating.