Verschwende deine Jugend (2003) User Reviews

Unexpectedly wonderful

[zymi25 · 8/10 · 10 July 2003]

First I was not very much convinced of seeing a great movie - I expected simple jokes, usual clichés of the 80s, average performance - BUT: I got great humor, a lovable picture of the 80s which is not exaggerated and very convincing actors in marvellous roles - YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS FILM ! Don't miss the "verrückter Schaum"-Joke ;o)

Realistic Picture of '80s NDW-Underground

[webmaster-682 · 9/10 · 19 September 2003]

Beeing located in Munich, Germany in the early '80, this Film shows the "Adventures" of a young Music Manager who wants to push the popularity of his local band. To do so, he decides to host a big festival headlining D.A.F., positioning his band as warmup. The problem is that D.A.F decided to stop playing gigs, the Circus Krone Arena is expensive, and the whole project seems to be a little too big for him. Of course, romances, bankrobbery, fraud and a lot of New Wave - NDW music make this film a must see. The only thing I didn't like that much is that the story appears to be a little juvenile for people who like movies about the '80s. I give 9 out of 10.

Another wild, but very forgettable German movie from the early 2000s

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 3 February 2019]

"Verschwende deine Jugend" or "Play It Loud!" is a German (mostly) German-language full feature film from 2003, so this one had its 15th anniversary last year. The director is Benjamin Quabeck and while this was not hs first known full feature film and he is still active in the industry today, his career really went south quickly afterward. If it was north at all, you could even say as honestly I am not impressed by this movie here. His "Nichts bereuen" is as forgettable, but probably even more famous and he recast Jessica Schwarz again for this one we got here. The writers are Ralf Hertwig and Kathrin Richter and this is not their only collaboration by any means, but certainly a contender for their most known. They are more successful than Quabeck these days too, even if you would not cound them anywhere near the elite of German filmmakers in 2019. Now as for the movie: The poster already tells you that this is one of the many many new wave German films that appeared in the aftermath of Lola rennt and were pretty fast, always had a connection to crime and love and just seemed pretty bold and void of compromise. On the first look only though because honestly all this is pointless if the story is so much in your face (as are the characters) that it forgets to be deep, insightful, touching and memorable and you can insert a whole lot of other adjectives in here too in my opinion, all the positive ones actually that this film lacks. The cast is not too shabby. Jessiva Schwarz is solid as always while not really making a big impact either though. Also she shows how the wrong haircut and color can really hurt your visual perception as I think she is/was among the most stunning German film has/had to offer with her long dark hair and dreamy looks. But here she plays more of a punk. Her male counterpart is Robert Stadlober, if you can even say that. He has very little screen time and clearly his star had been falling quickly during that time already as he was the epitome of a successful German teen actor who did not manage a successful transition into more serious movies and rightfully so as honestly I don't see a lot of talent in him gently-speaking. One who is still a force these days is Tom Schilling, who plays the main character. Schilling is also the lead in the very recent German Oscar-nominated movie "Never Look Away", so yeah he is certainly living the good life. In this old film we have here, well relatively old lets say, he plays a man working at a bank who gets drawn in deeper and deeper into a world that is the exact opposite of his solid, well-ordered and responsible work life at the bank and eventually this culminates in him commiting a serious crime. By the way, music is also a big factor in this film. Good music? I wouldn't say so. There is one stage performance by Schilling's character where he lets it all out near the end. Very bold, very much in your face, but as empty as everything else in this movie pretty much, also lyrics-wise. This is a film that is far too much style over substance and the characters seem almost gimmicky the longer it goes. It is more the writers' than the actors' fault in my opinion. I don't recommend watching these slightly over 1.5 hours and give them a thumbs-down. Go for something rlse instead. Even if you love German film, this is not the one for you. Oh well, maybe you can see it if you liked "Nichts bereuen", but I think both are relatively weak to be honest. Also not worth seeing for the young(er) Jürgen, Moschitto and Ulmen, regardless of how talented or not they might be. Skip it.

Great Trip to the 80ies

[DocJoe · 9/10 · 4 July 2003]

Though I was just 14 when the eighties were over, I feel somehow linked to that unique decade. So, this film may have a certain bonus for me as it is situated in the early eighties. Nevertheless, it is a heart-warming, very funny and yet credible picture. Unlike other 80ies movies the typical cliches do not seem too exaggerated or unfitting. This movie could equally be done in the Eighties. On the other hand, in that case it would be lacking gorgeous Jessica Schwartz...

The romance, not the riot

[richard_sleboe · 5/10 · 4 February 2009]

I have only seen a little more than a third of this, but it was enough to change my mind about the movie. I never thought Jessica "touchy-feely" Schwarz could get away with the rock chic thing, but to my surprise, she sort of does. Okay, so she won't quit her day job and be a punk rocker any time soon, but it's a start. She may be no Pink, but she's a blonde for a change, and it suits her. Although her hair is poorly cut and her sleeveless black vinyl stage outfit is open to debate, she is completely believable as the lead singer's jealous girlfriend Melitta. She's acting angry when she feels she needs to, but really her character couldn't care less about capitalism, communism, or any other schism. It's not a small accomplishment for her, as an actress, to make us understand that Melitta is about the romance, not the riot. She really isn't so much unlike the band manager's shy girlfriend, Lena. Played by Nadja Bobyleva, Lena isn't too hard to look at either. Works for me.

great and funny film with good music

[wolfsmode · 10/10 · 9 July 2003]

this film is a must... for them who have been young in the 80s and those who have not been born yet or too young to remember! great music and a nice and almost real story :-) a lot of great atmosphere !

not another storyless hollywood film ! a great film from europe !

especially the actors did a great job !

Great great great

[mm-1 · 10/10 · 6 July 2003]

I thought I would hate it! But it is great great great! Funny, funny, funny! Even if you are too young to now the 80s. But don't miss the "NATO-Doppelbeschluss"-Joke!!!!

A very funny film located in the early 80's

[kai_meschnark · 9/10 · 11 August 2005]

Great music, very funny story, wonderful actors. A young so called manager (Tom Schilling) wants to get more success for his band "Apollo Schwabing" (Stadlober and the very pretty Jessica Schwarz), so he organizes a huge festival with "D.A.F." as headliner. The problem is, that the band "D.A.F." don't know anything about that... If you raised in the early 80's in Austria or Germany like me, the film is a great reminiscence to that time. The music (D.A.F., Human League, XTC and the songs written in typical 80's NDW style for the fictional band Apollo Schwabing), the fashion, the youth cultures (punks, new wavers, "ökos") and even the TV spots, its all so authentic ! But even younger people could like this film, because the best is the very funny story and the real great camera. Have fun !