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47 out of 52 people found the following comment useful :-
Bavaria beyond Beer, Lederhosn and Dirndl, 21 August 2006
10/10
Author: vetmad from Munich, Germany

I'd never have thought that a German, well it's actually more a Bavarian movie, could be this exceptional anymore. But it continues the line of rare Bavarian films that capture life in all its facets, in the great tradition of Franz Xaver Bogner's "Irgendwie & Sowieso" from the 1980s. It's true and funny, sad and heartwarming, telling a grand story with an outstandingly authentic cast, an exceptionally good soundtrack in beautiful pictures. If you want to be entertained well for an evening and you want more than just a cheap laugh, go see this movie (despite its strange title, meaning something like "The sooner you die, the longer you'll be dead") and see Bavaria beyond all kitsch!

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24 out of 26 people found the following comment useful :-
Hilarious!, 25 November 2006
9/10
Author: jh-89 from Austria

This movie took me completely by surprise. I had read a favorably inclined review in which it was mentioned that the film gave an interesting outlook on the effects of catholicism on children. It does so indeed, yet without ever ridiculing its subject or characters. And as if that were not enough, the film is at the same time incredibly funny.

11-year-old Sebastian is the main character who learns from his elder brother that their mother died when Sebastian was born. While this was intended as some sort of punishment for some mischief the boy was up to, the impact this news has on him was not to be foreseen... afraid of having to end up in purgatory for his sin, Sebastian is looking for ways to make himself immortal. The solutions that are suggested to him by his immediate environment are mostly questionable - yet Sebastian is more than willing to heed any advice to redeem himself.

What follows is a wild goose chase for salvation, leaving the spectator marveling at Sebastian's ingenuity and laughing about the misinterpretations that may occur when parents and teachers try to understand their children.

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27 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :-
one of the best movies I have seen this year, 4 September 2006
10/10
Author: tassilo7 from Germany

I can recommend this movie strongly to anybody, with or without Bavarian passions / roots. I am so glad that such movies still exist - in total contrast to recent Hollywood trash.

I am not saying this as a Hollywood hater. No I do like films like "The Godfather" or "Casablanca" very much.

"Wer früher stirbt, ist länger tot" has a lot of black humor, a very good child actor, and displays funny Bavarian traditions.

And, it is a very successful combination of sad tones with funny and positive vibes.

Watch this, you won't be disappointed. Subtitles recommended for all Non-Bavarians ;-)

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13 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
the most wicked German feelgood movie of the year, 14 November 2006
10/10
Author: Juja1 from Germany

Full 10 points, would have loved to give 11. Not only the most enjoyable German movie of the year, but in general the most enjoyable movie I have seen in a long time. Contents: Take a child's fantasy, take Bavarian Catholicism, and watch a series of hilarious events unfold from this combination. If you are – such as me - German but not from Bavaria, be sure to take also a South German friend with you in order to translate the punch lines you have been missing due to dialect. If you come over this movie out of Germany, don't miss out on the fun – you're even luckier because you will most probably be watching a subtitled version. I am sure you don't have to be German in order to like this movie, because religion - and all those strange blossoms which it may spread - are truly international. Last but not least: If you're German and the rabbit from „Nach 5 im Urwald" made you laugh – here's more :-)

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8 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Absolutely charming!, 19 January 2007
9/10
Author: Lola33 from Germany

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Gosh! I'm happy that I caught this one before it disappears out of German art-house cinemas, although, I have a feeling that the movie will move on to cult status, at least in Bavaria. Little Sebastian is a typical rascal, living in the Bavarian mountains with his dad an brother. His mother died when he was born, and one of these days, his older brother, in a fury, accuses him of killing their mom. Sebastian takes this very seriously and seeks a way to achieve redemption for his sin(s). The knowledge of being the cause of his mother's death (hitherto they had told him she died in an accident) mortifies him and he has only one goal: he must become immortal in order to avoid purgatory. He seeks help from adults, but the regulars at his fathers pub who are occasionally rehearsing an all male amateur dramatic performance there in the back room, aren't of help really. There suggestion: in order to become immortal he has to reproduce and to achieve this, ask a decent female to shag with him. Little does he know what that means, and so there he goes, asking his pretty teacher whether she would care to... The turbulence ensuing is nothing short of hilarious, and the actors' thick Bavarian accents are half the fun. In the end, Sebastian will provide a frail old lady on the verge of death with a last joyous moment, he will find a partner in crime in a pretty class mate, he will save a life, and he will find a get his dad a new love. Watch this movie while you can on the big screen or get the DVD as soon as it comes out. I laughed and cried at the cinema.

This movie has just received the Bavarian Film Award as best picture. Congratulations Marcus H. Rosenmüller!

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
Beautifully written and directed, 19 January 2008
10/10
Author: Ryan BF from United States

I couldn't disagree more with the previous commentator. I saw this movie last night at the German Film Festival in Washington DC and was absolutely blown away (as was the person I watched it with). It is one of the most beautifully written movies we have ever seen. Set in rural Bavaria, the audience follows the adventures and thought processes of an 11-year old boy (played by a brilliant actor). The plot fits together perfectly, captures you completely, makes you laugh out loud hysterically at times and cry at others. The vivid portrayal of the community surrounding the boy lets you become a part of it. There was not a moment of boredom for me, and the first thing I said to my companion after the film was that I wanted to get it on DVD to watch it again. While the characterizations are larger than life, they are the farthest thing from clichés. This is a brave movie that has some of the best treatment of both youth and death that I have seen.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Just great, 13 November 2007
9/10
Author: zetscho from Germany

A really nice little story in a (for me from Hamburg) strange region (Bavaria) where strange religious believes and other superstitions drive a young, naive boy into some hilarious situations.

The actors and characters are all really great, the story and all its funny twists are as well. I especially liked the ironic view on Bavarian country-life and the dialect (which wasn't a problem at all, but my Grannie was from Munich, so I'm used to it unless it's not completely far-off), as well as the very sensitive insight into a kid's view on the world.

And most of all: It was really funny which is a rarity in German movies. But I think you can enjoy this very well if you're Non-German, as conservative, religious countrysides aren't so uncommon elsewhere. This story could just have happened with only little differences in the Middle West or South Italy or so.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Jimi Hendrix?! You Don't Know Who He Is?, 24 June 2008
9/10
Author: rotildao from Brazil

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Far better than expected and thinking this might be another overrated film by IMDb's users, I searched for more feedback and realized after watching it yesterday the film is superbly innocent but also cares for children's education and character building, never stealing their perspective nor viewer's mature (hopefully) intelligence.

The movie deals with serious subjects, such as mothers death after birth (and death itself), the role of fatherhood and certainly with guilt, denial and conformity.

Sebastian Schneider is simply one of the most self-identifiable characters, in many dimensions, and everyone is bounded to be attracted towards his "grave-yard" decisions. No one will scape death and therefore this film reminds us the importance of being present as best as possible in every moment we can. I shut my eyes and think Bread and Tulips, another small gem with Bruno Ganz, which gives the same feel, although not as funny as Grave Decisions (good English title but far from the original).

The script is flawless and jaw-cracking. The cast is perfect, from supporting till main roles. All scenes constantly build the mood and the story of the film (there goes editing!), as a great orchestra performing a Beethoven's classical.

So try to watch this marvelous enlightening film without too many distractions, just relax and enjoy the ride because the major goal of the film is really to communicate, and believe me, there are positive results in this exchange of feelings which will keep one's company for, I believe, quite some time.

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2 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
pretty bavarian but pretty amusing, 29 August 2006
7/10
Author: aleiderer from Germany

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This movie is not killingly funny but it is very amusing and disposes of a very convincing, charming and handsome cast (it even comes up with local stars like Konstantin Wecker (songwirter and living legend), Fritz Karl (austrian eye-catcher, awarded actor), Sepp Schauer (playes in many bavarian first class series) and Saskia Vester (exquisite all-round actress). It stands for modern bavarian films which at one time tell a story that could happen all over the world but live on the beautiful setting of upper Bavaria, the nuances of the dialect, the wisdom of a "regular's table" and the courage to show the hearty rawness of people in the country. I recommend it to everyone who goes for diverting and fleet-footed movies or is in need of a real mood-lifter!

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2 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Too much glitter... but nevertheless total gaudi, 28 May 2007
7/10
Author: moshdesigner from Mexico

This movie is about how a child growing up in a small village in the south of Germany, startled by the thought of being guilty of his mother's death, tries to find a way to find the secret to eternal life -in a funny, twisted way only possible in the mind of a kid-.

One of the great virtues of this movie is that it captures the essence of Niederbayern. Not the busty girls in Dirndls, stocky men with enormous moustaches eating Brez'n or the other usual paraphernalia surrounding the Oktoberfest: this is the REAL life in the small villages. The violent/loving affection demonstrations among acquaintances and family is there, the house interiors, the rugged language, the tell-it-like-it-is attitude, the insane tales and explanations about life told by parents to their children... Nothing is missing here.

What I resented about this movie is the lack of good acting in many of the actresses/actors and the evident US sixties and seventies' fashion and music references that seemed to permeate the director's mind. This insistence in referencing Woodstock, Elvis and hippie mysticism glitters unnecessarily in an almost uncomfortable way, polluting an otherwise amusing tale. (The kid's mother was into a hippie lifestyle while being born in 1969? Come on, she should've been more into padded shoulders and checkered patterns!) There's even a particular shot to the face of the radio DJ that seems a carbon copy of the classic "camera round trip" of the basement pot-reunions in the TV program "that 70's show".

Asides from that, it is an enjoyable movie that pays a lot of attention to detail and provides with laughs and insights into how can we perceive the world while being kids. And of course, a vivid portrait of the rural Germany, the one you don't get to see on Thomas Cooke's trip brochures.

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