Sterben
Wry-comic German family drama about a dysfunctional family starring Lars Eidinger as a conductor working on a piece of music about death. Awarded the Silver Bear for best screenplay at the Berlin Film Festival.
Mother Lilly is dying of cancer, father Gerd has advanced Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, son Tom is trying to co-parent his ex’s child, and daughter Ellen is struggling with alcoholism and depression. When the situation in the home of parents Lilly and Gerd becomes untenable, Lilly seeks help from her son Tom.
Tom, however, is tense and anxious due to both the situation with his ex as well as his work as conductor of a Berlin youth orchestra. They are currently rehearsing a piece entitled ‘Sterben’ (dying). However, the rehearsals are hampered by the composer of the piece who continuously provides everyone with acrimonious criticism, but also declares that he will probably commit suicide one day.
In STERBEN, all the characters struggle in their own way with the finiteness of life and what it means for themselves and their relationships. The film balances on the line between biting humour and disbelief about our human inability to truly connect.
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