In Christian Petzold's Yella, the eponymous heroine escapes from her stultifying life and psychopathic ex-husband in a moribund town on the Polish border and finds a dangerous new life as an accountant in Hanover. A handsome, crafty young businessman engages her to help him exploit troubled companies on the brink of collapse. It's a gripping business thriller with a compelling performance from Nina Hoss. Unfortunately, a gimmicky construction helps the writer-director avoid facing the consequences of the drama he's set up.