AroView: A three-hour German drama, the subject of which is also the name of a stirring classical opus at its centre, conducted by a man whose father is far gone with dementia, whose mother is despairing, and whose composer friend is a misanthrope and depressive. Then there’s his sister, an alcoholic dental assistant who’s having a torrid affair with her married boss.

These are not laughing matters but there is some levity in the absurdity, cruelty and kindness at the heart of this compelling film that recalls Toni Erdmann in its spirit and ambition.

“German feature Dying looks like a hard sell on paper. And yet writer-director Matthias Glasner’s crisscrossing family drama manages to be exceedingly funny, often in some of its darkest moments, as well as expectedly sad… this richly rewards the time investment it requires.” — Leslie Felperin, Hollywood Reporter

“A surprising, shape-shifting modern melodrama held aloft by a string of fine performances. It is given added emotional ballast by a specially composed orchestral piece, whose troubled rehearsal and performance history becomes the story’s existential soul.” — Lee Marshall, Screen Daily

“Matthias Glasner’s epic is a black comedy of Franzenesque family dysfunction; maybe not profound exactly but terrifically watchable and entertaining.” — Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian