Defending your Life
1991·United States·112 min.
Available on
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In an afterlife resembling the present-day US, people must prove their worth by showing in court how they have demonstrated courage. Yuppie Daniel Miller is killed in a car accident and goes to Judgment City, a waiting room for the afterlife. During the day, he must prove in a courtroom-style process that he successfully overcame his fears (a hard task, given the pitiful life we are shown); at night, he falls in love with Julia, the only other young person in town. Nights are a time of hedonistic pleasure, since you can (for instance) eat all you want without getting fat.
DirectorAlbert Brooks
ScreenwriterAlbert Brooks
MusicMichael Gore
CinematographyAllen Daviau
CastMeryl Streep·Albert Brooks·Rip Torn·Lee Grant·Buck Henry·Shirley MacLaine·Michael Durrell·Gary Beach·James Eckhouse·Julie Cobb·Peter Schuck
Original titleDefending your Life