影片的原始素材来自于80多岁高龄的德国电影大师爱德嘉·莱兹,往年自编自导的现代德国史诗《故乡》三部曲剧集,而现在,这部大气磅礴的史诗则被搬到了电影银幕上。导演以强烈的黑白影像风格与冷峻的笔调,通过一个德国农村里农民生存的故事,向我们展示了德意志民族的人性、历史、文化等方方面面……。在民政局工作的陈小二(陈佩斯 饰)和舅舅(魏宗万 饰)是新旧两代白事工作者。陈小二的红白理事会提倡白事新办,响应法律号召推行火葬;他舅舅是位老资格的大了,坚决捍卫土葬风俗,与此同时向丧家放高利贷从中渔利。陈母(赵丽蓉 饰)年逾古稀,老脑筋一时无法转变。她生怕儿子将自己烧掉,加上娘家哥哥煽风点火,陈母立逼着小二立下土葬的字据。
寿辰前夕,小二的姐姐(丁嘉丽 饰)和姐夫(倪大宏 饰)送来一口大红棺材祝寿,这让陈母的心事彻底了结。风水先生算出陈母须在农历九月期间躺在棺材里去阎王爷处报名,同时为了检验小二的孝心,陈母和哥哥想出假死的馊主意,由此也引出一连串惹人发笑的荒诞闹剧……。Lyle Jensen is subject to sudden and violent outbursts, and he is committed to the juvenile wing of the Northwood Mental Institution. Several other youths are there with a variety of serious problems. Lyle interacts with other patients and staff on a human, and sometimes not so human level. The psychological problems of the patients also forms the fabric by which we see what's ...。