Når livet går sin vej (1997) User Reviews

Nice way to show what children feels and knows

[Kynde · 8/10 · 25 January 2002]

This short animation movie shows in a fine way what children feels about death. It's nice to hear when they see there grandparents in the clouds or has a nice fantasy about a nice God up in a heaven where you can play football. Less nice to hear of children loosing a little brother, having cancer - thinking about if they want to stay alive or loosing their pet animals. However, it is all part of life and death and belongs in the movie.

In my opinion the best thing about the movie, is that the end shows a child saying that she really doesn't think to much about death, since she still have so much time to live. Well, she of course wont know how long she has left, but children should know about death, not use to much time thinking about it, and that is to me a good point. 8/10!

Strong idea and execution

[Horst_In_Translation · 8/10 · 12 November 2017]

"Når livet går sin vej" or "When Life Departs" is an animated movie from 1997, so this one has its 20th anniversary this year. It only runs for 9 minutes, but it may still be the biggest success for filmmakers Killerich and Fjeldmark, even if they made other more known works in their careers, because this one here was nominated for an Oscar. You often hear about certain animated films not being suitable for children and given the topic here, it could also be true about this one, but as it is also children in the center of the idea, it is especially suitable for children who are about the age as the narrators and with that I mean the interviewees and I am glad they don't include adults asking the questions audibly as it really would have hurt the setting.

Anyway, this is the third time already I have watched this one and it does not get any worse. It is a really deep film with a great deal of emotions when we hear young kids talk about how they were confronted with death already in their short lives with their grandparent dying or even through the death of their baby brother. But it's not all about death, there are also references about souls for example. Or about heaven and hell. And as a consequence, there is also mention of God. And I liked how different the ideas there were. We have one kid talk about how God looks in detail and how all humans are inside him in a way. And then the next kid says briefly that it doesn't think God exists. Very interesting. Do you still remember what you were thinking about these subjects back when you were little? Props to you, if so. I sadly don't, but I'd be really curious. I am not sure to what extent this were written, but if it was scripted really, then I think they did a marvelous job in having this look very much like a documentary. I want it to be really. Badly. This shows you how much I liked it. It's not a problem at all that the animation is very basic. It fits the subject in terms of style and general approach and this is one of the rare examples where the audio was crucial for the animation and came first. Others that I think of included mostly classical music. So yes this one here is 90% audio, which makes it crucial to get subtitles if you don't speak Danish. Or go for the English version right away. But see it. This was a really beautiful watch and it is criminally underseen. I want you to change that now. You definitely won't regret it.

The Voices of Children

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 27 October 2021]

Death can be a touchy subject. As adults we have a tough time. That said, this little film uses little children's ideas about death and then animates them. The drawings are quite simple but the thoughts they express are ones we have all had. Since I am an older man, it was a little hard for me to watch this one.

an affecting, refreshing, thought provoking short

[acmelita · 10/10 · 15 January 2008]

I've never seen a more touching animated documentary. Correction: I've never seen a more touching documentary, this one just happens to be animated.

I generally keep a fair poker face even during the most sentimental of stories but I defy anyone to not react with compassion to these children speaking about what what happens in the afterlife. Their forth-right honesty and openness is utterly disarming. The boy talking about his baby brother, how he prays to hold him just once more, well, it's very moving. However, please don't mistake me, this is not morose and it is not treacle. It reminds you of when it was easier to be certain of things that cannot be proved. It's up-lifting. How can you not smile at a line like "When you die you get special feet so you can walk on the clouds. Then you can walk around up there on this big cloud. And you can play football like I do..." Because, you know, it's important to be able to play soccer, even if you happen to be dead at the time.

The Academy Award nomination was well deserved. I recommend checking this one out. The have it over at www.Filmporium.com The $5 DVD also includes the haunting "When the Day Breaks" and the globe-trotting "Radio Umanak."