Die Herbstzeitlosen

I had seen this movie in a preview and was really surprised. I had never expected, that the Switzerland make good movies.

The eighty years old Martha is sad and don't want to life anymore as her husband died. She decided to open a lingerie-boutique (a dream she gave up as she had married her husband) in her small village in Switzerland. The problem is, that her son is the vicar of the village. But with her friends she fights against the resistance.

A really really funny movie.

When you see it you know: The oldest are the goldest!!!

An absolutely feel good movie!

Four venerable ladies. The death of the husband of one of them and the eccentric idea of recent widow. The support of her friends, the embarassment of her son, pastor of community, the adversity of men from Emmental.

Good premises for a lovely story about new youth, tenacity, support, a lie who becomes more than truth and the courage to live a new youth, more impressive and authentic at a not very young age.

The acting is just superb.

Like the dialogues , confrontations and tenderness scenes .

The death, the arrogance, the politic, the relation children - parents, the sexy lingery are present in this honest film about a sort of bitter sweet manner to asume the life.

No doubts, a profound inspired comedy. And little more - a wise remind about the precious gifts of elders.

Months after the death of her husband Martha decides to die: She puts on her most festive dress and lies down on her bed, the photograph of her beloved on her chest. But alas, she wakes up the next day, in best health, but late for church. She decides to make a change and - encouraged by a friend - makes an old dream come true - her very own shop for lingerie. But Martha lives in a small village AND is the mother of the village priest ...

Originally this wonderful little gem was planned for Swiss television only, thank God some people realized what a shame that would have been and "Die Herbstzeitlosen" was brought to the cinema. The acting is great, and it would be difficult to imagine a better "Martha" than Stefanie Glaser - who by the way is even older than her film character and had never before played the lead in a feature film for the cinema. As far as I know there are talks about a remake for the US - what a surprise - but anyone who has the chance to see the original should take it. This is a film with a very heartwarming, uplifting story with enough humor and true characters to keep it from turning sugary.

Bettina Oberli's endearing and charming film will bring a smile to those who watch it. It's a cheeky tale charmingly told, assisted by that lilting Swiss-German dialect. Trub, a small village in the Emmmental Valley in Switzerland's Berne canton, is the backdrop to the story and the picturesque shots of its meadows and pastureland can only help add to the film's adorability.

Said to be one of the best films ever to come out of Switzerland, it will never achieve Hollywood greatness nor are any of its stars likely sex symbols. Nevertheless, "Die Herbstzeitlosen" is one of the reasons why we are grateful Seattle has such a large and international film festival. Gentle, funny, and the wonderful cinematography and superb acting will only reflect credit on the Alpine nation's film industry. "Die Herbstzeitlosen" is Switzerland's Official Submission to the Best Foreign Language Film Category of the 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008).

please, please, just release it in the USA with sub-titles. i saw it in Germany when it opened, and while i couldn't understand the dialogue very well, it was enough to enjoy the film.......immensely.And there is so much intonation and color in the language it adds to the feeling and the artistic quality. This film is so good it should not get a Hollywood remake for a long time , if ever.

too bad the swiss and deutschers don't offer English subs for their homegrown produce. but in the long run that's their problem. at this point it has my vote for the best foreign film Oscar.

I would put this in the category of small films that really pack a punch. harold and maude, la strada, delicatessen, and a couple of the bill forsyth films come to mind. The picture of swiss small time life is priceless and , from my own several visits there, seems to be on the money.