Fuelled by the self-hating, yet self-obsessive coverage the media reserve only for themselves, Helmut Dietl's scathing satire on Munich's media, film and generally "in" scene became one of this year's highest grossing German titles.

The story alone was enough to arouse the curiosity of most media insiders. Co-written by author Patrick Süskind, it revolves around the to-die-for crowd that frequents the Italian restaurant Rossini. The menagerie of regulars includes a man-eating woman journalist and a film producer based on Bernd Eichinger, whose Constantin Film distributed Rossini.

A locally high-profile cast including Meret Becker, Heiner Lauterbach and Joachim Król, plus the director of 1992 hit Schtonk!, was enough to have the German media salivating. Rossini made the cover of Stern magazine to coincide with its opening date. Meanwhile, the actors became a ubiquitous presence on German TV. In all, over 190 programmes reportedly featured the film.

The film industry also embraced the Diana Film production. Dietl, Lauterbach (Das Mädchen Rosemarie) and Jan Josef Liefers (Knockin' On Heaven's Door) picked up Bavarian Film Prizes. Dietl's Diana also secured an output deal with Constantin.

But probably most importantly, over three million people were interested enough to pay to see Rossini, making it one of the key films that powered German product to a 37% market share in this year's first quarter. With media coverage bolstering a reported $1.4 million campaign, Rossini took a biting $3.9 million in week one. But, after nine weeks, the film broke the $20 million barrier – suggesting word of mouth had it that, never mind the hype, Rossini was actually quite good. Adam Minns

Prod co Diana Film

Prods Helmut Dietl, Norbert Preuß

Dir Dietl Scrs Dietl, Patrick Süskind

Cast Heiner Lauterbach, Joachim Król, Meret Becker

Sales co Bavaria Film International

Running time 112 min