Die Bestatterin – Tote leben länger offers another solid combination of investigation, odd village characters and humor. Its strengths are familiar rather than revolutionary, but the balance works.
An apparent suicide raises undertaker Lisa Taubenbaum's doubts. Anna Fischer's Lisa does not simply accept the police assessment and begins asking her own questions. That brings her back into friction with Inspector Thomas Zellinger, played by Christoph Letkowski.
Their dynamic is one of the film's main pleasures. Lisa brings curiosity and unconventional charm, while Thomas remains practical and mildly irritated, influenced by her more than he wants to admit. Dry exchanges give the mystery welcome lightness.
Lydia Bruna directs calmly and with a feeling for the Swabian surroundings. Quiet images and a provincial atmosphere matter more than large action scenes or constant thriller reversals. The film trusts its people and their reactions to the case.
Fischer makes Lisa lively, direct and vulnerable. Letkowski supplies a reliable counterpoint, although his character gains few new facets. Supporting villagers add charm while also falling into familiar crime-series types.
For me, the result is competent and enjoyable. The story does not reinvent the series, but its cast and mixture of suspense and humor do what they need to do. An unexceptional yet dependable provincial mystery for viewers who like these investigators.