Christian Petzold has proven himself to be a nuanced filmmaker with a specific interest in the heartbeat of his characters. With “Yella” and “Jerichow,” he’s displayed tight command of mood and visual communication, using body language to express what long passages of dialog cannot possibly convey. Even when the material doesn’t quite stimulate the senses, Petzold shows an investment in the life of his screenplay, refusing to hand his audience easy answers. “Barbara” isn’t a tightly wound story of sacrifice, yet its distance is alluring, retaining secrets and motivations, building to a satisfying conclusion. Petzold may not summon a gripping pace, but his concentration on the minutiae of behavior remains riveting. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com