Bis zum Ellenbogen

This low-budget slapstick comedy is funny in a very blunt and obvious way, but funny all the same. Justus von Dohnanyi's script is particularly generous with jobless Willi (Stefan Kurt), a bothersome outcast held together by nothing but quirks and issues. He's fun to watch, but you can't help feeling relieved he doesn't live next door. Although Willi, Achim (Jan-Josef Liefers) and Sven (Justus von Dohnanyi) aren't the most manly males, "Bis zum Ellenbogen" suffers from a slight overdose of testosterone. I wish we had seen a little more of Susanne Wolff in the part of Rebecca, Achim's headstrong wife. Notable guest appearances by Antoine Monot Jr. (of "Lammbock" fame) as the village oaf and Devid Striesow, who clearly enjoys his small part as a heartless banker and dreadful dad.

I enjoyed this "little" movie (80 min., no budget worth mentioning) tremendously. I doubt any Anglo-American or any other viewer will ever read this, leave alone see this film. But here you go. Meet cute between stereotypical (yet insecure) yuppie Achim and social security claimer Willi. They end up with Sven in his rented Swiss chalet and who relishes in pampering them no end because of his loneliness. His fiancé drowned a year ago on the Ellenbogen bay of his home island Sylt. Sven is just too kind to be true and hence dies in a freak accident, making the other two bond over fulfilling his last wish, to be buried at Ellenbogen (which he mentioned in a drunken evening, not knowing what was in for him).

Now you're in for a ride with a decomposing body, facing wives (Achim), neighbours (Willi, they stop at his home to change clothes and try to "revamp" the rotting Sven), and last not least they have to carry what's left of Sven through the all out party that was World Cup 2006 in Germany. Note: FIFA had such a claim on anything with the World Cup that an accidental showing of the logo would have cost the filmmakers a trillion more cash than the movie cost all together. Nice. Anyway, they did shoot some original scenes of Germany 2006 and its hilarious.

Well, it goes on and on with the two invontarily buddies until the happy end and it doesn't stop making you gasp. Every obstacle is played to the hilt - marvelous.

Justus von Dohnanyi has a neat directional debut, with some acting friends gladly supplying great cameos. He does a great job in acting Sven until the end too.

Stefan Kurt is very good. As always. But it's my favourite German actor Jan Josef Liefers who's movie this is really. He is just awesome. He puts more meaning into a raised eyebrow than - speaking from a German perspective - hammy Götz George puts into a whole movie. He always gets it right. OK, he had the most thankful role, changing from wannabe yuppie to a "caring friend", but he never overdoes it. "Hollywood" should take note. Given the fact that he played his part in bringing down the wall... Check it up and enjoy this genius actor.