IN HEAVEN UNDERGROUND: THE WEISSENSEE JEWISH CEMETERYMovie Reviews
Story: German/English/Hebrew language documentary about the oldest Jewish cemetery, in Berlin, still in use in Europe. Cast:William Wolff, Ron Kohls, Gabriella Naidu, Harry Kindermann, Reinhard Maenne, Klaus Lorenz, Hannah Lickert, Hermann Simon, Benny Epstein, Daniel Hakarem, Alfred Etzold, Ronnie Golz, Robert Dietrich, Rainer Altenkamp, Gesine Sturm, Lev TabachnikDirector:Britta WauerOpened:November 18, 2011From:Seventh Art ProductionsLength:1 hr. 30 min.
In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery, Very Good Reviews, Mixed (Doc) NYC, LA
In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery played in New York City and Los Angeles to very good reviews that at the same time were mixed. • Alison Willmore wrote for the AV Club, "Most people wouldn't expect a film that's inherently about death (and, to a lesser extent, the Holocaust) to be uplifting, but the gentle, tender documentary 'In Heaven, Underground' ultimately achieves it." • And Nick Pinkerton wrote in the Village Voice and LA Weekly, "...flecked with moments of interest..." More Reviews Below...
In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery Positive Reviews (9 Reviews, reviews below)
David DeWitt, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...captures the aura of the Weissensee [Jewish cemetery] in its many layers. The sense of place may be expected, but it's also poetic and exquisite."(Read the full review...) 250 words, 11/18/11
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "There are fascinating stories to be told, and we do get a few. But much of the movie feels padded, as if [Britta] Wauer didn't uncover quite enough substance to fill out her chronicle. A little more research, or the decision to craft a fully conceived short film, might have made all the difference."(Read the full review...) 140 words, 11/18/11
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a playful, poetic and all-around charming documentary, an off-center look at an unusual institution.... 'Life affirming' are not the first words that come to mind to describe a film about a cemetery, but in this case they absolutely fit."(Read the full review...) 585 words, 01/13/12
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...beautifully lensed documentary chronicles the past and present of the 130-year-old Weissensee Cemetery in Berlin, the oldest Jewish burial place still in use in Europe."(Read the full review...) 139 words, 11/18/11
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "...flecked with moments of interest, though this decidedly minor and not particularly cinematographic affair is clearly best suited to television."(Read the full review...) 211 words, 11/16/11
KEY CITIES (0 Reviews)
In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery has not been reviewed in Key Cities
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "...flecked with moments of interest, though this decidedly minor and not particularly cinematographic affair is clearly best suited to television."(Read the full review...) 211 words, 11/16/11
Alison Willmore, AV Club: EXCELLENT(cg) "Most people wouldn't expect a film that's inherently about death (and, to a lesser extent, the Holocaust) to be uplifting, but the gentle, tender documentary 'In Heaven, Underground' ultimately achieves it."(Read the full review...) 398 words, 11/17/11
Rob Humanick, Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "There's far more to Weissensee, past or present, than any one film could ever hope to contain, but this pleasant, ultimately rushed visit isn't nearly enough to do it an even rudimentary justice."(Read the full review...) 344 words, 11/17/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
David DeWitt, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...captures the aura of the Weissensee [Jewish cemetery] in its many layers. The sense of place may be expected, but it's also poetic and exquisite."(Read the full review...) 250 words, 11/18/11
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a playful, poetic and all-around charming documentary, an off-center look at an unusual institution.... 'Life affirming' are not the first words that come to mind to describe a film about a cemetery, but in this case they absolutely fit."(Read the full review...) 585 words, 01/13/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Jay Weissberg, Daily Variety: WEAK "In a desire to dispel ghosts from Europe's largest active Jewish burial ground, Britta Wauer turns it into a cheery, almost cutesy place where gentiles can learn about quaint Jewish customs of an almost incidentally destroyed community, and older Jews fondly reminisce about a bygone world."(Read the full review...) 267 words, 02/14/11
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a playful, poetic and all-around charming documentary, an off-center look at an unusual institution.... 'Life affirming' are not the first words that come to mind to describe a film about a cemetery, but in this case they absolutely fit."(Read the full review...) 585 words, 01/13/12
David DeWitt, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...captures the aura of the Weissensee [Jewish cemetery] in its many layers. The sense of place may be expected, but it's also poetic and exquisite."(Read the full review...) 250 words, 11/18/11
23.9 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery's reviews are separated by an average 23.9 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery (9 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery's reviews cover 10.9% of potential readers (average is 68.2%). Volume:The film's reviews total 2,545 words involume (average is 19,979 words). Length:The film's reviews average 283 words in length (the norm is 512 words).
In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery Coverage, Volume & Length (9 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 15.2 Hours After Release (Norm is 0.2 Release)
In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery's reviews on average broke 15.2 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 0.2 hours after. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
In Heaven Underground: The Weissensee Jewish Cemetery (9 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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