Partly Sunny

This film starts as a shallow love story: two blokes in a bar hit on the woman they fancy by sending one of them over who tells her that the other one is terminally ill. "Would you like a brain tumour or prostate cancer? - OK, OK, I know, so it's a brain tumour." Surprisingly women seem to believe this shtick and want to help the alleged coffin-dodger to a beautiful last night.

Using this trick, Tim, a canteen cook, gets to know Marie - and this time it isn't a one-night stand, but develops into something more serious. The snag is that Marie has a sister, Edda, who really suffers from cancer and only has a few months to live. She, of course, can see through the subterfuge right from the start and asks Tim to help her grant some last wishes.

Now this film gets more serious, Edda doesn't want to live, she doesn't want to die - she is full of joy and very cranky, just the typical mood swings of someone who has to die.

Occasionally some of what she wants reminds a bit of "Knocking on Heaven's Door", the film about two cancer patients who want to go to the sea before they die and have a few adventurous last days. That film is rather a comedy, while "Heiter bis wolkig" is often a bit sadder. It raises a laugh, and it is tear-jerking, especially for people who have seen someone die of cancer. But don't worry, It isn't a depressing film, it's also a kind of fairy tale. Live your own life, try to make your dreams come true - that is the theme of "Heiter bis wolkig".

Max Riemelt as Tim, Jessica Schwartz as Edda and Anna Fischer as Marie are excellent, giving their characters some depth and making you feel with them.

The title isn't misleading; this film is partly cloudy: sometimes a bit sunnier, sometimes it can rain a bit.

Do not take clues from this on how to approach women. Or the other way around. But the movie is not giving lessons. This is supposed to walk a thin line and entertain you while tackling a serious issue. And it mostly succeeds in doing so, which is not an easy feat.

The acting is quite decent and while cliches will or might bother you at times, try to not let them ruin anything. Not for the easily offended ones, but everyone else may try this one out ...