Crazy

This coming-of-age movie is an adaptation of the autobiographical bestseller by Benjamin Lebert which caused a sensation on the German bookmarket in 1999 because the author was only 17 years old when he wrote it.

It tells the story of a "half-side spastic" boy who keeps changing schools in order to pass the math exams at last. His latest school is a boarding-school in Southern Bavaria (filmed at the same one that the real Benjamin attended), where he finds friends for the first time. Each of these misfits has problems of his own but they all share the confusion of puberty. This period of life is shown so authentically that everyone in the audience will be able to identify with the characters (or remember his/her own youth).

The actors are excellent (especially Tom Schilling and Julia Hummer) and very well guided by Hans-Christian Schmid, who seems to have a knack of discovering young talents. The music is great as well and excellently enhances the often melancholy mood of the film. If you liked "Fucking Amal" you'll love "Crazy". I hope it will be a success.

This film is a portrait of the half-spastic teenage boy Benjamin who has to visit a boarding school because of his lousy marks in Math. He didn't make the best experiences in life before and got serious self-esteem issues. After a rough start at his new school, he starts making friends, falls in love with a girl and does some American Pieish teenage stuff.

Beside some comedy elements, the film is told in a very serious way, focussing on Benjamin and his problems.

If you already don't like this story outline, save your time and watch something else. If you do, please be aware of the following:

1) Benjamin is a total loser. Whatever he does, he does it terribly wrong and then he goes for self-pity all the time. For me he wasn't that kind of "charming loser" who you can feel sympathy for and laugh with. Instead he and his behavior really annoyed me and with my own teenage years not so far behind I could barely stand watching.

2) The film hardly tries to be realistic and the story seems to be but from my experience the characters just aren't (except for Janosch maybe). And yes, I know this film is based on an auto-biography written by a 17-year old - but having some experiences with German schools and German youth myself, I don't believe him.

3) Showing the sexual awakening really is an important thing for a film with this subject. But I doubt that teenage boys do an "Ejaculate on the cookie"-contest where everyone has to hit a cookie with his sperm during mass-masturbation in the woods and the loser has to eat the sperm-wet cookie afterwards. Although it kinda amused me in a contemptible way, it's nor funny neither underlining the serious attempts of this film.

4) There's a sub-plot about Benjamin's family and his father betraying his wife - still, I don't know why it's there and where to put it. It just bored me.

Well, I personally hated this film for having the character of Benjamin, being without a message, concept, scheme, whatever and it's failing attempts to be dramatic and serious. However, I can image that some people may find it sensible and touching. If you liked "The Other Sister" you'll probably like this one, too. I hated both.

17-year old boys shouldn't write an autobiography and if they do, it doesn't seem to be the best idea to make a film out of it.

2 out of 10.

"Alles wird hier für einen getan. Nur glücklich sein - das muss man selbst."

("Everything is done for you here. All you have to do is be happy.")

Benjamin's (Robert Stadlober) brief description of the boarding school feels like a slap in the face for anyone with real problems. Especially after spending the entire film watching the naive, carefree, almost jaded existence of a group of young people.

Leaving aside the disability, which is hardly addressed anyway and only appears for biographical reasons. Almost every character is doing extremely well, and yet they constantly struggle.

The boarding school can be seen as a metaphor for life. Here, even minor problems (some of which are self-inflicted) can stand in the way of happiness. Even extremely favorable circumstances do not protect from a descent into melancholy. Happiness is something you have to create for yourself.

The music fits well into each scene, including the title track "Crazy" by the "amateur" live band.

There is a scene akin to a printed "Photo Love Story", which caught me off-guard as a refreshing cinematic diversion, thoroughly enjoyable.

Today, a good 20 years after its release, another facet has been added to the film, one that may not have been intended. "Crazy" shows the (somewhat stylized, but certainly realistic) interactions of the last generation before the widespread use of social media. I found this an interesting aspect because the story of the film is so relatable, even though the conditions depicted are now completely outdated. It's also strange to see how almost all minors smoke (even in restaurants).

However, don't expect a character study. It's mostly about the little adventures of circle-jerking boys whose backstories are glossed over in 1-2 sentences. The female roles are consistently one-dimensional.

If you go along with it, you'll hardly feel bored and will leave the film with a comfortably optimistic ending.

I'm still a bit breathless after watching this film (pretty late, 10 years after)... but it carries you away with such power that in certain moments it becomes a bit difficult to keep your cool. I suppose everyone can feel related to one or other of the characters. After reading the original novel, you know what to expect, but the way this book was put into film makes it one of the best films on the subject I've seen yet.

Benni is portrayed unflinchingly by Robert Stadlober. His role is not only believable, it is -I may be exaggerating, as always, perfect.

It's a memorable film with one of the best soundtracks I remember from a non-musical-film. Maybe the strength given to some scenes by the perfectly chosen songs is one of the reasons you must watch the film. It will tear off some of your memories, or maybe it will call your own adolescent back to tell you some things you, and I, should never forget.

Unlike some other people around who give a bad ranking just because they didn't under that: 1) Germany movies are in German --> we don't speak English just because you want us to, even though we could 2) NOT every movie about teenager as a bad American teenage comedy/slapstick

The movie Crazy is more or less a Drama about a young handicapped boy (the protagonist can't control the right side of his body) who happens to come to a new boarding school which is located in a beautiful castle in Germany. The movie then revolves around him being the new guy, how he finds friends and how he falls in love with a girl. BUT also due to his handicaps he has a tough standing in the school. After all the movie is not a comedy, but a very touching drama with some funny parts. I really recommend it to everyone who is open for new things.