Grave Decisions (2006) User Reviews

Black and Bavarian

[erle-3 · 7/10 · 21 September 2006]

I was a little wary of this movie, German comedy is often too shallow and unimaginative. But Rosenmüller went the other way instead, choosing to make a deliberately whacky and funnily dark movie about a kid seeking immortality to escape eternal punishment for his mother's death. That's a great concept, the movie plays it for what it's worth and the Bavarian setting in all it's strangeness helps a lot. For me, there is a problem, though: the leading role. Finding a 11-year old who can act is hard, I personally can think of only one or two movies with boys figuring prominently that they didn't sink. Girls seem to do a better job of it somehow.

Anyway, Markus Krojer is no exception to the rule. His acting is wooden, he barely seems to be able to act his role rather than himself (or at least it seems like that. Never met him.) He's just a kid, so no blame there, but it hurts the movie.

Fundamentally, Bavarian comedy is an exception from the "Germans have no sense of humor"-rule. At their best, they live up to the Brits. "Wer früher stirbt..." is proof of that once again.

Too much glitter... but nevertheless total gaudi

[moshdesigner · 7/10 · 28 May 2007]

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.

pretty bavarian but pretty amusing

[aleiderer · 7/10 · 29 August 2006]

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!

Bavaria beyond Beer, Lederhosn and Dirndl

[vetmad · 10/10 · 21 August 2006]

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!

Hilarious!

[jh-89 · 9/10 · 25 November 2006]

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.

Beautifully written and directed

[trade-12 · 10/10 · 19 January 2008]

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.

the most wicked German feelgood movie of the year

[Juja1 · 10/10 · 14 November 2006]

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 :-)

one of the best movies I have seen this year

[tassilo7 · 10/10 · 4 September 2006]

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 ;-)

Disappointing

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 8 December 2015]

"Wer früher stirbt ist länger tot" or "Grave Decisions" is a German 100-minute movie from almost 10 years ago. It is the first full feature film by Marcus H. Rosenmüller and also his most famous work to this day. In the center of it, we have an 11-year-old boy whose mother died when he was born. As a consequence of this, he blames himself and tries to find out if he is really responsible for killing people. This sounds pretty serious, but this film is really more of a (sometimes dark) comedy than a drama movie. Rosenmüller included many funny scenes to make this a lighter watch I guess, but in my opinion it is not working, because the comedy in here feels forced from start to finish, just like I said to make this a lighter watch. But it almost never feels authentic or genuinely funny. One of the worst scenes is probably when we see and hear the protagonist at the supermarket. For no real reason, he confesses also his other sins and his dad completely out of nowhere starts attacking another guy who was just standing around, a complete stranger. This also worked against the intention of the filmmakers to make the father look likable from start to finish.

Sometimes this film also has love story elements when the boy's dad falls in love with his son's teacher. Unfortunately, none of their scenes have any real emotion attached to them, but are just poor flesh lust and strange meetings during nighttime. Of course, right at this meeting they get caught by the children. And still we are supposed to believe this is true love, in contrast to the marriage that the teacher has been in for a while. Some very weird scenes in here. The film's biggest weakness is probably the writing. It's a usual case of black-and-white character with little depth and no shades at all. Do not be fooled by this film's high IMDb rating or all the awards attention it got, came in second behind "Four Minutes" at the German Film Awards that year. This is not a good film at all, neither funny nor dramatically convincing. if you still want to watch it, you may even need a set of subtitles as a German native speaker as the Bavarian accents in here are very thick. But why would you? You''re not missing much. Not recommended.

Absolutely charming!

[Lola33 · 9/10 · 19 January 2007]

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!

Jimi Hendrix?! You Don't Know Who He Is?

[rotildao · 9/10 · 24 June 2008]

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.

Just great

[zetscho · 9/10 · 13 November 2007]

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.

Very funny, yet touching.

[[e-mail] · 10/10 · 12 April 2013]

This is a very funny yet touching comic drama about the weirdness of everyday life. Set in a small Bavarian community, it looks at the relationships within a dysfunctional all-male family. 11 year old Sebastian, known locally as der Chandler-bub (the baby of the Candler pub), is a lovable rascal, but his older brother blames him for their mother's death. Sebastian sets about trying to remedy the loss of his mother, because his guilt for this supposed crime, as well as other misdemeanors (watch out for a hilarious medieval courtroom dream sequence) weighs heavily with him. Markus Krojer lends the role of Sebastian a tremendous amount of warmth and believability. The rest of the cast are also excellent, with finely judged performances. Watch out for a delightful laundry scene involving Sebastian's father. The one real detraction is that I have not been able to get hold of a copy with English subtitles. My German is good, but this film is in Baiirish (Bavarian dialect), with High German subtitles. Copies with English subtitles are very rare.

Great Movie

[cistar_b · 9/10 · 3 July 2007]

I really enjoyed this movie, because it made me laugh so hard even though the subject of the movie could be considered quite serious. But the way the little boy deals with his fear of going to hell after he dies is just hilarious. And it might not be the most realistic or sophisticated German movie that has ever been done, but if you want to hear Bavarians swear and argue and have a great time, this is the movie you should watch! The movie is about an 11 years old boy living somewhere in the Bavarian countryside together with his brother and father, who runs the local "Gasthaus". The boy is (what you would call) quite a brat. When he accidentally kills 3 of his brothers rabbits, his brother tells him that he will go to hell after he dies, because of all the sins he has committed, especially because he "killed" his mother, who died at his birth 11 years ago. In order to redeem his sins, he seeks advice from the local men, who always hang around at the Gasthaus, but also from the priest, his teacher and the radio host.

Very funny (if you understand the strong Bavarian accent)!!!

Some irony would have helped

[liderc · 3/10 · 4 April 2007]

Well, another German comedy ... This time, it's even a Bavarian comedy, obviously a high budget production (the photography is surprisingly good) ... But it falls in the same trap of the mindset some Bavarians really seem to like: Speaking strong Bavarian accent is so great and so big fun, especially if it is combined with simple-mindedness and and ruthless manners. Therefore we have in this movie silly sex jokes ("Can I sleep with you?" asks the little boy his female teacher), lurid depictions of butchered pigs and killed rabbits and stupid dialogues like the father's use of the phrase "Get lost" as a loving greeting for his son, or the little boy's naive question "Können Sie Leviten lesen?" (sorry, this one can't be translated). Of course, life in small Bavarian villages is here shown to be oh so great and oh so happy ... Yeah, right, because it is so wonderfully simple-minded ... If the script would have treated this kind of life with irony, this could have been a great movie, but being what it is it is just yet another simple-minded German comedy. Besides, the nude scene of the leading Austrian actor was hilariously bad. But still, some jokes are nice and there is a funny cameo by Konstantin Wecker, therefore the three points.

great movie

[da-bene · 10/10 · 2 August 2006]

it was a big deal to go into the sneak preview tonight! if you're able to understand the Bavarian way of life then you'll probably love that film. The Bavarian Dialect is great! Thanks therefor! Summary: A young boy wants to know how to become immortal. his brother accounts him guilty for the dead of their mother and so the young boy is searching for a way how he can even make her mother immortal although she's dead for a long time. there a many of funny scenes which make you laugh throughout the whole movie! although the topic is rather earnestly, the director showed the whole story in a funny way. one more thing: this shows reminds how blissfully ignorant people are about death.

What's about life and death?

[lego-15 · 10/10 · 16 October 2006]

Almoust perfect. Marginal deficits in being too giggly.

Great plot. Excellent actors. Typical Bavarian life, stunning nature scenes -- you'll wanna climb the Wendelstein! Most impressing to me is the stories hidden message: how do we deal with our questions, who is giving us answers and how do we deal with em. One the one hand we feel for the small boy constantly dropping a brick, one the other hand, we remember our life: sometimes we also do not know what to do, have no answers and do stupid things. What's life about? And death? How many (wrong) answers... how much misleading... how much stupidity ^^ Aren't we are like that small poor boy, searching for THE answer hitting the dirt all the time?

German comedy with deep meaning

[jeannefrancoise · 8/10 · 1 December 2018]

Dear European movie lovers, now I am going to review Wer Fruher Stirbt Ist Langer Tot, one of German comedy with deep meaning. This movie cited as comedy because the main story is whole about to make you laughing a lot from your seat, especially the theatrical scenes each night while the main character dreaming, but frightening about what he has been done at the day. The main story is so simple, is all about the imagination of a kid, who lost his mother while gave birth to him, so that friends, especially his brother made him frightened that he was the one who killed the mother. Sleeping so close to the theater club, this kid is starting to imagine in the Last Judgement, being punished, etc, so that he be friended with local radio announcer to get more positive energy and also to help his father has new girlfriend to replace her mother. The plots to finish this duty is so funny, a really German comedy with sense of religious-critic, sex scenes, and also the relationship among characters that makes this movie so adorable, funny, but having deep meaning about our life, than perhaps the Universe is just going along that way, without any personal consequences to us, but it is us who make some points complicated. Have fun with this German movie!!

A few interesting views of German provincial life.

[FilmCriticLalitRao · 5/10 · 20 August 2008]

It is a known fact that most German films set in Germany appear highly realistic as German filmmakers prefer shooting on locations known to them.This is something which applies to films set in big German cities such as Berlin,Hamburg,Hannover etc.As far as films set in German provinces are concerned,one can always expect to see a fairly honest account of German provincial life.It is by keeping this aim in his mind that Marcus H. Rosenmüller has created some very good views of provincial life in his film "Grave Decisions".His film is set in a small Bavarian district where people know each other well.They are always together to eat,drink and enjoy their lives.It is in their midst that we see a naughty kid who is carrying a heavy burden of guilt.He leads viewers to confront some of the most basic issues of daily lives which mean a lot such as companionship,loneliness, motherhood.Some traces of Indian religious life can also be found in this film as Marcus H. Rosenmüller spent time in India to make his early films.

Worst film ever!!!

[uebermut-1 · 1/10 · 10 August 2007]

I've just seen this awful movie and I'd like to say it's such a waste of time. The story is so uninteresting that the good acting doesn't matter anyway. The whole movie you're waiting to see something surprisingly - no way! The worst thing: the fact that it's made out of stereotypes and clichés makes it even worse than TV-trash with just something like storyline or charming characters. Somehow it makes me angry having seen this, so this comment… such a dumb piece of film! For the fact this is a Bavarian film, the heavy dialect seems just to suggest, that you are watching an authentic movie. What a fake! The little boy is acting well, there are funny scenes in it, but the whole time there are elements that are feeling so fake, that you ask yourself what kind of intellectual twist they were having in mind. Even the good photography helps feeling more bored - has do be well made, but it's not. One of my bottom #5, definitely!! Even worse than… no idea.

Can't understand the hype

[tdrewes · 3/10 · 28 February 2007]

Hi,

I rented this movie to have some light hearted, funny entertainment. But to be honest - we hadn't.

First of all: Coming from north German descent and thus not too familiar with the Bavarian dialect we enabled subtitles after the first 10 minutes. But I could have lived with that without problems if the movie would have been funny. But it wasn't. The first 50 minutes had two or three chuckles for me but the rest was merely boredom.

I don't know really why I couldn't connect to this movie but I wonder if the reception of this movie is a regional thing. I liked for example 'Karniggels (1991)', because I could connect to it not only from the regional point of view. But this one here for me is a mostly badly crafted, not really funny comedy.