Suicide

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing
Review: If you are in search of gore, sickness, and/or fright, look elsewhere. However, if you are in search of an emotionally disturbing picture, you've found it. Minimal graphic gore/violence. Maximum desperation and sadness.

The key to this film's impact is found in the painfully slow buildups to each "suicide". We are walked through their final moments, forced to bare witness to the thoughts and feelings of defeated soles. In some cases, the events are pathetic and darkly humorous; in others, tragic and heartbreaking. Yet, in each, we see a level of realism rarely achieved in film.

Surely, some will blow this film off for a lack of graphic visuals. However, for those who dare to think about and truly experience a film, you are in for something unique.

Oddly enough, I would classify this film as anti-suicide, as one is not left with a comforting or agreeable feeling about the matter.

I only hold back that final star because the "suicides" become a bit repetitive and tiresome at a certain point. There is only so much of this one can take before glossing over and growing callous.

Rating:
Summary: German cinema at its very best
Review: This german film, released here with it's original sundtrack and english subtitles, is totally unique in it's subject matter and in its form. Roughly it is about a young couple who decide to offer their services on a website to film other people's suicide. There is a lot more to it, but there are some very interesting and unexpected plot twists that would be a shame to give away - you just have to see this for yourself. It is entirely shot on Digital Video - but BEWARE all those people who have some strange grudge against this medium, let me tell you: this is the only way this film could have been made. This is one of those films where the choice of that medium is essential, enhances the horrifying nature of the film and, indeed, is no less than a character in the story.
Funny thing is that, partly because of the use of video instead of filmstock, this film looks as though it was a lot easier to make than in reality is the case. There is no use of the obvious and much-too-often used digital effects that we are bored with in the multiplex theatres, everything looks as though it is plainly shot with a small handheld camera. But the suicides that are shown are so shockingly realistic and indeed much better looking than rapidly outdated digital effects in any 100 million dollar movie that it is hard to believe that the makers of this "small" film have achieved this level of 100% realism. This is enhanced by the true-to-life acting of absolutely everybody in this film.
It is dark and very unsettling, but essential to everyone interested in intelligent horrorfilms, german cinema from the likes of Jorg Buttgereit or Michael Haneke and for everyone who wants just that little bit more from a movie-experience than just laid-back entertainment.