Die Ueberlebenden (1996)

Genres - Historical Film  |   Sub-Genres - Biography  |   Run Time - 92 min.  |   Countries - Germany  |  
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Synopsis by Sandra Brennan

This German documentary tells the story of three young men from Stuttgart who committed suicide and in so doing provides an interesting portrait of life in a small German suburb. All three young men were friends and graduated from high school in 1979. The story begins at a high school reunion where former classmates, friends and family members discuss the circumstances surrounding their deaths, which occurred between 1985 and 1990. Rudi Jaschke was the popular one and a straight A student. A greengrocer's son, he endured a life of pressure from his overbearing father, who tried to force him into becoming a lawyer. He lasts two semesters in law school then takes off for Scotland where he lives and works, apparently happily for two years before returning home in a deep depression. Thilo had been the long-haired rebel who dreamed of rockstardom. He and a friend headed for France shortly after graduation. Following an arrest for car theft, Thilo abruptly changes and begins studying to be a doctor. Tilmann had once played music with Thilo and never graduated having left school in 11th grade to become a metal worker. Wanting to avoid the draft, he then moves to Berlin. Tilmann was the loner and never had many friends, but for Thilo. One day while Thilo visits him, Tilmann slips into his garage and ends up dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. Thilo tells authorities he killed Tilmann, but they disbelieve him. Two years later, Thilo does the same thing to himself.

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Keywords

investigation, friendship, high-school, suicide, suicide-attempt