Le péché selon Sébastien

This movie took me completely by surprise. I had read a favorably inclined review in which it was mentioned that the film gave an interesting outlook on the effects of catholicism on children. It does so indeed, yet without ever ridiculing its subject or characters. And as if that were not enough, the film is at the same time incredibly funny.

11-year-old Sebastian is the main character who learns from his elder brother that their mother died when Sebastian was born. While this was intended as some sort of punishment for some mischief the boy was up to, the impact this news has on him was not to be foreseen... afraid of having to end up in purgatory for his sin, Sebastian is looking for ways to make himself immortal. The solutions that are suggested to him by his immediate environment are mostly questionable - yet Sebastian is more than willing to heed any advice to redeem himself.

What follows is a wild goose chase for salvation, leaving the spectator marveling at Sebastian's ingenuity and laughing about the misinterpretations that may occur when parents and teachers try to understand their children.

I really enjoyed this movie, because it made me laugh so hard even though the subject of the movie could be considered quite serious. But the way the little boy deals with his fear of going to hell after he dies is just hilarious. And it might not be the most realistic or sophisticated German movie that has ever been done, but if you want to hear Bavarians swear and argue and have a great time, this is the movie you should watch! The movie is about an 11 years old boy living somewhere in the Bavarian countryside together with his brother and father, who runs the local "Gasthaus". The boy is (what you would call) quite a brat. When he accidentally kills 3 of his brothers rabbits, his brother tells him that he will go to hell after he dies, because of all the sins he has committed, especially because he "killed" his mother, who died at his birth 11 years ago. In order to redeem his sins, he seeks advice from the local men, who always hang around at the Gasthaus, but also from the priest, his teacher and the radio host.

Very funny (if you understand the strong Bavarian accent)!!!

I can recommend this movie strongly to anybody, with or without Bavarian passions / roots. I am so glad that such movies still exist - in total contrast to recent Hollywood trash.

I am not saying this as a Hollywood hater. No I do like films like "The Godfather" or "Casablanca" very much.

"Wer früher stirbt, ist länger tot" has a lot of black humor, a very good child actor, and displays funny Bavarian traditions.

And, it is a very successful combination of sad tones with funny and positive vibes.

Watch this, you won't be disappointed. Subtitles recommended for all Non-Bavarians ;-)

A really nice little story in a (for me from Hamburg) strange region (Bavaria) where strange religious believes and other superstitions drive a young, naive boy into some hilarious situations.

The actors and characters are all really great, the story and all its funny twists are as well. I especially liked the ironic view on Bavarian country-life and the dialect (which wasn't a problem at all, but my Grannie was from Munich, so I'm used to it unless it's not completely far-off), as well as the very sensitive insight into a kid's view on the world.

And most of all: It was really funny which is a rarity in German movies. But I think you can enjoy this very well if you're Non-German, as conservative, religious countrysides aren't so uncommon elsewhere. This story could just have happened with only little differences in the Middle West or South Italy or so.

This movie is about how a child growing up in a small village in the south of Germany, startled by the thought of being guilty of his mother's death, tries to find a way to find the secret to eternal life -in a funny, twisted way only possible in the mind of a kid-.

One of the great virtues of this movie is that it captures the essence of Niederbayern. Not the busty girls in Dirndls, stocky men with enormous moustaches eating Brez'n or the other usual paraphernalia surrounding the Oktoberfest: this is the REAL life in the small villages. The violent/loving affection demonstrations among acquaintances and family is there, the house interiors, the rugged language, the tell-it-like-it-is attitude, the insane tales and explanations about life told by parents to their children... Nothing is missing here.

What I resented about this movie is the lack of good acting in many of the actresses/actors and the evident US sixties and seventies' fashion and music references that seemed to permeate the director's mind. This insistence in referencing Woodstock, Elvis and hippie mysticism glitters unnecessarily in an almost uncomfortable way, polluting an otherwise amusing tale. (The kid's mother was into a hippie lifestyle while being born in 1969? Come on, she should've been more into padded shoulders and checkered patterns!) There's even a particular shot to the face of the radio DJ that seems a carbon copy of the classic "camera round trip" of the basement pot-reunions in the TV program "that 70's show".

Asides from that, it is an enjoyable movie that pays a lot of attention to detail and provides with laughs and insights into how can we perceive the world while being kids. And of course, a vivid portrait of the rural Germany, the one you don't get to see on Thomas Cooke's trip brochures.