Sterben (2024)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 180 minuten
Alternative title: Dying
Country:
Germany
Directed by: Matthias Glasner
Stars: Lars Eidinger, Corinna Harfouch and Lilith Stangenberg
IMDb score:
7,4 (2.530)
Releasedate: 25 April 2024
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Sterben plot
The Lunies family is no longer as close as it once was. Lissy is secretly happy that her husband with dementia is languishing in a retirement home. However, her happiness is overshadowed when she herself struggles with all kinds of health problems. Their son and conductor Tom is now working on a piece of music entitled Dying and becomes stepfather to his ex's child. His sister Ellen starts an affair with the married Sebastian, with whom she also shares a penchant for alcohol. The estranged family members reunite after a long time.
Actors and actresses
Tom Lunies
Lissy Lunies
Ellen Lunies
Sebastian Vogel
Bernard
Gerd Lunies
Liv
Ronja
Moritz
Susanne
Reviews & comments
hvdriel
-
- 397 messages
- 357 votes
Powerful film - with a double title according to the poster: Sterben and Streben - follows the structure of the classical tragedy: five chapters + an epilogue.
In Chapter 1 (the exposition), Glasner introduces the story of a family (mother, father, son and daughter) and the common thread: dying.
The elaboration is then quite brilliant with beautiful parallels between the film itself entitled Sterben (directed by Glasner) and the performance of the piece of music entitled Sterben (conducted by the son Tom), with which we also track down a parallel between the director and the son Tom.
For those who want some similarities between film and music:
- Both are never finished; the ending is constantly being postponed.
- The piece of music 'lasts too long', says an orchestra member - a nod to the three hours of the film > son Tom: 'I want the beginning to be played even slower'.
- The piece of music has 'no hope', nor does the film - except possibly for the epilogue.
- 'The hope is that we play the play' > that we see the film.
- The first premiere is disrupted by Tom's sister Ellen; the film also in chapter 3 with the introduction of Ellen.
etc. etc.
Translated from Dutch · View original
mrklm
-
- 11931 messages
- 10217 votes
Lissy [Corinna Harfouch] has diabetes and is rapidly deteriorating physically. Gert [Hans-Uwe Bauer] has Parkinson's and is displaying very confused behavior. They can barely take care of themselves, let alone each other, but despite a plea from caring neighbor Susanne [Catherine Stoyan], the health insurer refuses to provide the medical support they need. When things go seriously wrong, Lissy calls her children Tom [Lars Eidinger] and Ellen [Lilith Stangenberg], but they have their own problems. Tom is a conductor who is preparing for the premiere of the piece 'Sterben' by his good (but suicidal) friend Sebastian [Ronald Zehrfeld] and Ellen is an alcoholic dental assistant who is having an affair with her married boss Sebastian [Ronald Zehrfeld]. Glasner executes this difficult balancing act between comedy and black comedy and melodrama to perfection, which means you can enjoy this even if you miss the subtle humor. Brilliantly constructed, perfectly acted and full of surprising twists, but not recommended for people with a phobia of dentists.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
-
- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
Still a fascinating look at a dysfunctional family that each struggles with a lack of (or just too much) love and desire, which makes it a mess because no one can meet the expectations. Sterben is a beautiful mosaic story in which each separate family struggles with (the meaning of) life and how to meet the expectations of society.
Tom, a gifted conductor, fails to bring harmony to his complex private life. Altruism clearly does not pay off here. His sister is somewhat more egocentric, her decisions have an impact on everything and everyone, but addictions often do. The elderly couple, the parents of the aforementioned, are confronted with the limits of growing old. Illness and dementia require a strong social network, but that is clearly lacking.
All stories are strong and closely interwoven, including the beautifully interwoven symphony that runs like a thread through the film. Three hours is long, but actually flies by if you take the time to immerse yourself in the film, partly due to some strong scenes.
Translated from Dutch · View originalLatest News
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