Big Girls Don't Cry (2002)

20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(4,260 ratings)

Maria von Heland makes her feature-length directorial debut with the teen drama Grosse Mädchen Weinen Nicht (Big Girls Don't Cry). Set in Berlin, where traditional and poor Kati (Anna Maria Muhe) is best friends with liberal and wealthy Steffi (Karoline Herfurth). When they spot Steffi's father,… More Maria von Heland makes her feature-length directorial debut with the teen drama Grosse Mädchen Weinen Nicht (Big Girls Don't Cry). Set in Berlin, where traditional and poor Kati (Anna Maria Muhe) is best friends with liberal and wealthy Steffi (Karoline Herfurth). When they spot Steffi's father, Hans (Stefan Kurt), kissing another woman (Teresa Harder), the two girls plan a scheme of revenge. They make friends with the other woman's daughter, Tessa (Josefine Domes), only to set her up in a dangerous situation with a pornographer (Dieter Laser). As Steffi begins to experiment with drugs and sex, her friendship with Kati becomes increasingly strained. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Maria von Heland
Written By: Maria von Heland
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Sep 23, 2003
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times
A refreshing reminder that learning how to navigate danger is a big part of being a teenager, and that no kind of upbringing -- or nifty home furnishings -- can or should shield a young adult from life outside her doors.
Chuck Wilson, L.A. Weekly
Sleek, not-quite- trashy-enough melodrama.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
[A] tiresome melange of teen depression, teen sex, teen crime, and teen friendship...
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It felt as heavy as a German meal of dumplings and gravy.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Janice :

Now this is adolescence! This German film is a real gem! Deeply emotional, it is the gripping story of the coming-of-age of two best friends who come to face reality. The story is captivating and leads to a brilliant ending; cliché yet enjoyable. The actors, whom I thought would be… More
Now this is adolescence! This German film is a real gem! Deeply emotional, it is the gripping story of the coming-of-age of two best friends who come to face reality. The story is captivating and leads to a brilliant ending; cliché yet enjoyable. The actors, whom I thought would be horrible, ended up being top-notch. I am pretty sure most of you are familiar with Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Both Sisterhood and Big Girls Don't Cry feature adolescent girls (best friends at that) dealing with life in general. Briefly, coming-of-age. But Sisterhood is a joke compared to this. I mean come on, teen girls don't all have perfect lives and go crazy over the slightest dramatic event. Some teen girls do take drugs. They do go to rave parties. They do have sex. They do have dark thoughts. Where Sisterhood features the bubblegum soda pop side of adolescence, Big Girls Don't Cry is the REAL DEAL. This could also be compared to Thirteen; however I personally prefer this over Thirteen because the latter is excessively intense to the point of making the viewer uncomfortable and nauseous. Over-dramatic if you ask me. Watch this instead!