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To Stay Alive: A Method

  • 2016
  • 1h 10m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
348
YOUR RATING
Iggy Pop and Michel Houellebecq in To Stay Alive: A Method (2016)
Documentary

Based on Michel Houellebecq's 1991 essay "To Stay Alive", about struggling artists, the role of the poet, and mental health problems. Featuring marginal artists as well as Houellebecq and Ig... Read allBased on Michel Houellebecq's 1991 essay "To Stay Alive", about struggling artists, the role of the poet, and mental health problems. Featuring marginal artists as well as Houellebecq and Iggy Pop.Based on Michel Houellebecq's 1991 essay "To Stay Alive", about struggling artists, the role of the poet, and mental health problems. Featuring marginal artists as well as Houellebecq and Iggy Pop.

  • Directors
    • Arno Hagers
    • Erik Lieshout
    • Reinier van Brummelen
  • Writers
    • Michel Houellebecq
    • Erik Lieshout
  • Stars
    • Anne Claire Bourdin
    • Jérôme Tessier
    • Robert Combas
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    348
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Arno Hagers
      • Erik Lieshout
      • Reinier van Brummelen
    • Writers
      • Michel Houellebecq
      • Erik Lieshout
    • Stars
      • Anne Claire Bourdin
      • Jérôme Tessier
      • Robert Combas
    • 3User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination total

    Photos4

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    Top cast16

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    Anne Claire Bourdin
    • Anne Claire
    Jérôme Tessier
    • Jérôme
    Robert Combas
    • Robert
    Michel Houellebecq
    Michel Houellebecq
    • Vincent
    Iggy Pop
    Iggy Pop
    • Self…
    Joseph d'Angelo
    • Self - Psychiatrist
    Jean-Paul Bourdin
    • Self
    Danielle Bourdin
    • Self
    Julien Bourdin
    • Self
    Jasmijn Haak Wegmann
    • Sylvie
    Peter Haak Wegmann
    • Marc's Father
    Thomas Haak Wegmann
    • Marc
    Brecht Hekkema
    • Michel
    Alexander Bont
    • Patrice
    Rose Mes
    • Henri's Mother
    Pepijn Kroegman
    • Henri
    • Directors
      • Arno Hagers
      • Erik Lieshout
      • Reinier van Brummelen
    • Writers
      • Michel Houellebecq
      • Erik Lieshout
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    6.7348
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    10

    Featured reviews

    9mitchandcary

    Awakening, and invigorating.

    A thought-provoking, mindful, and philosophical view into the creative mind, through the blurred filters of created realities, imagined identities, and stark clarity. This is a wondrous painting, created with words, poetry, emotion, and imagery.
    7ms-52486

    The insane are usually themselves. That is why they are locked away.

    This film/documentary puts the focus on a group of people that would usually be described as losers, crazies or weirdos.

    The concept is based on an essay of Michel Houellebecq, in which he seems to encourage this said group of people - by declaring human suffering as the source of all poetic expression.

    Iggy Pop takes a very prominent spot, maybe a bit too prominent. I would have liked to hear more from Houellebecq himself.

    The other protagonists - Anne Claire Bourdin, Jérôme Tessier and Robert Combas - are all struggling with their mental issues to a greater or lesser degree - while trying to express themselves artistically.
    9tree_beetse

    Singularity

    Fascinating inquiry into the boundaries between insanity, counterculture and singularity. Very human too, as the film portrays outsiders as the real creative thinkers, much closer to great artists like Mr Pop and Mr Houellebecq. This film challenges your ideas about art, expression and beauty, and hopefully it will inspire you to follow your instincts and your own craziness. It did that for me.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the beginning of the film, the five artists are introduced to us with a caption indicating their first name and their age. All of them are introduced by their real first name, except for Michel Houellebecq's character, who is introduced as "Vincent (53)". Later into the film, it's revealed by the name plate at his front door that his family name is "Greilsamer". "Vincent Greilsamer" is a character (who is an artist) from Michel Houellebecq's 2005 novel "The Possibility of an Island". Robert Combas is introduced at the start of the film as "Robert (49)". However, in reality Robert Combas was actually not 49, but 59 years old at the release of this film.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Iggy: Poets, attack!

    • Crazy credits
      The closing credits end with the phrase:

      'A dead poet does not write'
    • Soundtracks
      Open up and bleed
      by Iggy Pop

    Top picks

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 30, 2016 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • Netherlands
    • Official site
      • producer's website
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • A Feel Good Movie About Suffering
    • Filming locations
      • Paris, France(location)
    • Production companies
      • AT-Production
      • seriousFilm
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • €308,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Iggy Pop and Michel Houellebecq in To Stay Alive: A Method (2016)
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    By what name was To Stay Alive: A Method (2016) officially released in Canada in English?
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