Life is All You Get (1997)
"Das Leben ist eine Baustelle." (original title)

After he loses his job, his father, and his girlfriend, Jan's life is a shambles. Then suddenly he meets freakish street musician Vera, and a bittersweet romance unfolds...

Director:

Wolfgang Becker

Writers:

Wolfgang Becker, Tom Tykwer

Stars:

Jürgen Vogel, Christiane Paul, Ricky Tomlinson

7 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jürgen Vogel	...	Jan Nebel
Christiane Paul	...	Vera
Ricky Tomlinson	...	Buddy
Christina Papamichou	...	Kristina
Martina Gedeck	...	Lilo
Armin Rohde	...	Harri
Rebecca Hessing	...	Jenni
Andrea Sawatzki	...	Sylvia
Frank-Michael Köbe	...	Zivi 1 / Undercover Police Officer #1
Rainer Werner	...	Zivi 2 / Undercover Police Officer #2
Uwe Richter	...	Polizist 1 / Police Officer #1
Frank Kessler	...	Polizist 2 / Police Officer #2
Oliver Heschke	...	Polizist 3 / Police Officer #3
Hans Seck	...	Mann mit Hund / Man with Dog
Klaus Dieter Stenzel	...	Mieter / Tenant (as Klaus Stenzel)

Storyline

Jan Nebel is young man who is fired from his job at the slaughterhouse after he beats up two civil-dressed cops at a street riot. Soon thereafter his father dies, and Jan moves to his apartment, sharing it with former co-worker Buddy and girlfriend Vera.

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Plot Keywords:

riot | slaughterhouse | police | building site | funeral | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

20 March 1997 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Life is All You Get

Filming Locations:

Alexanderplatz, Mitte, Berlin, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

X-Filme Creative Pool, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), Arte

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Harri: You might want to ask before you take something.
Jenni: May I drink some coke?
Harri: I still miss the magic word.
Jenni: Asshole.

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Connections

Referenced in Rabbit Without Ears (2007)

User Reviews

Boring construction site

As the title suggests: 'Life is a construction site', this whole movie seems to be a construction site - one that won't be finished. The movie spectator has to watch dull characters wander through a boring script, but very rarely he is likely to sense a spark of sympathy or an emotional reaction. The character of the greek girl alone is played with carefulness and emotion but apart from that, most of the movie is a waste of time.

If you like to watch movies about the topic of people desperately looking for love in a cold world I'd strongly suggest Pedro Almodovars 'All about my mother' or 'Magnolia' instead! I'd also suggest an alternative German movie: Watch 'Train Birds' a.k.a. 'Zugvögel... einmal nach Inari' by Peter Lichtefeld - a brilliant masterpiece.