Lars Eidinger Is a Conductor on the Brink in ‘Dying’ (Exclusive Berlin Trailer)

Ready for another deliciously outré performance from Lars Eidinger, everybody’s favorite German arthouse weirdo (known for his work in Personal Shopper, Clouds of Sils Maria, White Noise, and on and on)? Well, strap in for Sterben (Dying) from German director Matthias Glasner.

In the exclusive first trailer from The Match Factory (see below), Eidinger plays Tom, a Berlin conductor with more than a few personal issues to deal with.

Dying is a rare new feature from Glasner who, unlike his prolific star, has kept his filmography tight. (His last feature was 2012’s Gnade.) Judging by the trailer, and Glasner’s previous work, including 2006 Silver Bear winner The Free Will, Dying looks like another powerful mix of melodrama, wry humor and philosophical ponderings about the “big questions” of life and, given the title, of death.

“The name of the piece… is ‘Dying’,” a high-strung composer, played by Robert Gwisdek, instructs the orchestra.” “It doesn’t matter,” counters Tom. “It does matter!!” Gwisdek screams.

The film features an all-star German arthouse cast, including Lilith Stangenberg (Wild), Saskia Rosendahl (Lore), Hans-Uwe Bauer (The Lives of Others), and Ronald Zehrfeld (Barbara). Corinna Harfouch (Downfall, Lara) plays Tom’s sharp-tonged mother.

Dying premieres in competition at the 74th Berlinale on Sunday, Feb. 18. The Match Factory is handling international sales.

Check out the trailer below.

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