Just One Day

»Clever, cheerful and heartbreaking story. The animals are embodied naturally by great actors. A children's film that also demands something from adults.«

»"Just One Day" is so wonderfully demothed, philosophically playful, playfully poetic, that you wish you had another 76 minutes of it or a whole day - even if it's just the one you have.«

»Quaint film adaptation of the play of the same name. It has heart and wit and is about the fact that life is worth living, but also that death is unstoppable. This works for children and also for adults. Wonderful, Anke Engelke as a mayfly, depressed and waiting for her hours to end.«

»The drama of the mayfly, which negotiates "Just one day", needs no masks, only emotions, to deal with the great existential questions of transience and death – for the cinema-goer of any size, any age. There is a great power in the simplicity of the production, which incidentally functions like a counterpoint to the usual cinema noise. "Carpe diem". Outstanding!«

Film review by Anna Wollner

»The whole film is special: especially funny, especially shrill and somehow also especially gaga. Originally the story was performed as a play, the film manages with few locations and only four actors. This is also special: The animals are represented by humans. And they act terrifically!«

»A modern fairy tale in which Lars Rudolph and his fellow actors succeed in their transformations in a funny and touching way.«

»There is an incredible amount of wisdom in this film. Even Martin Baltscheit's decision to have animals portrayed by humans, just as if children were playing their "I pretend I'm an animal" game, is courageous and works fantastically – a device never seen before.«

»Live the day and enjoy life as it is. This clear message makes the film interesting for all audience groups regardless of age.«

»With "Just One Day" one really has the feeling of having accidentally landed in an enchanted world ... A beautiful story for a young audience.«

»"Just One Day" tells poetically, optimistically and sadly at the same time about happiness and the meaning of life, not only for children.«

»"Just One Day" is a clever, funny and touching film about the really important things in life.«

»A magnificently played, lovingly directed children's film for young and old about the value of friendship and the preciousness of life.«

»The short life of a mayfly gives reason to philosophise with children about life. The sometimes serious topics are taken up with humour and ease.«

»"Just One Day" tells a timeless story of life and death and the time in between. Recommended for all age groups.«

Reinhard Lüke in conversation with Martin Baltscheit

»A very courageous film that shows that people can still implement original, unconventional ideas despite the media overkill.«

»All animals in this imaginatively staged family adventure are played by humans. It's a good thing that they are experts like Anke Engelke and the great Lars Rudolph.«

»An unbelievably heartrending, cheerful, melancholy, burlesque, dramatic and comical ballad full of wisdom. The film adaptation "Just One Day" is a little cinematic wonder. Something really great, also for adults.«

»Magical animal fable about friendship and the joy of life. To have the animals in his story embodied by real actors is a creative trick, which works perfectly thanks to the sensitive actors.«

Home visit with Martin Baltscheit

»The story, which takes place almost exclusively outdoors, exudes a natural flair like a DEFA fairytale film adaptation ... One of the rare children's films that you should not miss even without children's company.«

»Entrusting young audiences with the fantasy of following a story under a spell without demanding realism has long been common practice in children's theatre, but is rare in film – unless a children's book and children's theatre author like Martin Baltscheit comes and takes over the realisation himself.«

»Martin Baltscheit's film adaptation of his own play strikes the right note, has heart and bizarre wit.«

»The film offers great opportunities for a lively, philosophical discussion. What would you do if you only had one day to live? What is important to you in your life? What is happiness?«

»The message of the film is so beautiful: that you yourself are happiest when you make others happy. A fable for children, but also for adults.«

»With "Just One Day" Martin Baltscheit wants to tell us: "Use life as long as you can."«