Product Details

• Actors: Mike O Connell, Jesse Eisenberg, Jim Gaffigan
• Directors: Sol Tryon
• Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Breaking Glass Pictures
• DVD Release Date: August 3, 2010
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003N82OP0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,886 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "The Living Wake" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

SPECIAL FEATURES
"The Re-Education of Mills Foquin" Short Film
Deleted Scenes
Musings with K. Roth Binew
Commentary with Cast and Director Sol Tryon
SYNOPSIS
Director Sol Tryon's critically acclaimed debut feature is a timeless fairytale with a biting sense of humor. When self-proclaimed genius K. Roth Binew (Mike O'Connell, Funny People) learns his life will be cut short by a grave but unnamed illness, he decides to go out in style-with a living wake. Accompanied by his faithful assistant Mills (Jesse Eisenberg, Zombieland), K Roth spends his scheduled final day on earth revisiting all the people who touched his life - from the village prostitute, to his estranged mother - in order to invite them to his grand finale.

Guaranteed to be a cult classic, The Living wake plays out like a combination of Monty Python's absurdist humor and Wes Anderson's delicate styling. What unfolds onscreen is a clever, whimsical fable about the nature of death.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected June 18, 2011

By Ssass

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Mike O Connell is a little too over-the-top for my taste; Jesse Eisenberg was spot on. I was drawn to the quirkiness of it, but was somewhat disappointed. I think I'll have to watch it again. My three friends fell asleep about 1/3 of the way through; a poor testimonial.

3.0 out of 5 stars The Living Wake March 21, 2013

By Patricia A Easterday

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was bought for a Christmas present so I really don't feel that I should rate this
product one way or another.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure November 27, 2012

By Goughy

Format:DVD

I admit that the first twenty minutes or so upon my first viewing of The Living Wake I was not completely engaged with it, the subtleties of its whimsy losing out to another activity, perhaps doing push-ups or reading, I can't recall. In fact, I am ashamed to admit, it wasn't until the closing did I begin to realize how charming this little indie picture had been, my attention earned with gratitude in its finale which gave me a sudden sentimentality, a reason for reconsideration. And thus, I immediately replayed the film convinced I had entirely missed out on something very special. I was right. The Living Wake has since become one of my favorites, a film which I watch from time to time to still find amusing and even profound thematic elements, along with some very comedic dialogue and performances. This isn't to say everyone will love this film as much as I or even at all. It's quirkiness I suppose could be considered pretentious or even self-aware, but I can think of a dozen or more far guiltier films to condemn for such attributes. It tends to be darkly comical, almost an absurdity in its regard of death, a gaping melancholy always in its heart, but in its treatment of the futility we face in our own mortality, seen through the grandiose eccentricity of its protagonist searching for meaning on the last day of his life, dealing with universal fears of leaving without making some kind of lasting impression in his short time here, it transcends its bleakness to be inspiring and an uplifting affair. K. Roth Binew, portrayed wonderfully by Mike O'Connell, is an exaggeratedly flawed character, at times unlikable, but always entertaining and as the film precedes, identifiable and indeed quite funny throughout. Jessie Eisenberg, as the straight man to the obnoxious Binew, Mills Joquin, gives another outstanding performance as does Jim Gaffigin as Binew's long lost father. The film is unique in its amalgamation of narrative devices, from song to poetry to comedy to drama (kind of like a one-man show), but this episodic structuring services the story well and lends to its charisma. In my recommendation of this movie I must attach the disclaimer that it is like a well-written stage play and so if this kind of pacing does not suit one's taste it will most likely be received unfavorably. I have found The Living Wake to be a cherished treasure that I hope many other's will enjoy as much as I do.