Rainer Werner Fassbinder

[denti alligator]

Tristan can you post that great Fassbinder on DVD list yet again.
Thanks in advance.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Beware Of A Holy Whore is an excellent Fassbinder movie.

[tristan]

I don't still have a copy. If anybody does, please let me know. If they don't, I'll do a third reincarnation sometime soon-ish.

[Matt]

The City Tramp - Extra on Wellspring's DVD of The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant
The Little Chaos - Extra on Wellspring's DVD of The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant
Love is Colder Than Death - Wellspring DVD
Katzelmacher - Wellspring DVD
Gods of the Plague - Wellspring DVD
Why Does Herr R. Run Amok? - Forthcoming Fantoma DVD
Rio Das Mortes - Wellspring DVD
The Coffeehouse - Unreleased
Whity - Fantoma DVD
The Niklashausen Journey - Wellspring DVD
Beware of a Holy Whore - Wellspring DVD
The American Soldier - Wellspring DVD
Pioneers in Ingolstadt - Fantoma DVD
The Merchant of Four Seasons - Wellspring DVD
The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant - Wellspring DVD
Wild Game - Unreleased
Eight Hours Are Not A Day - Unreleased
Bremen Coffee - Unreleased
World on a Wire - Unreleased
Nora Helmer - Unreleased
Martha - Fantoma DVD
Fear Eats the Soul - Criterion DVD
Effi Briest - Wellspring DVD
Fox and His Friends - Wellspring DVD
Like a Bird on a Wire - Unreleased
Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven - Wellspring DVD
Fear of Fear - Wellspring DVD
I Only Want You to Love Me - Unreleased (VHS released by Water Bearer)
Satan's Brew - Wellspring DVD
Chinese Roulette - Wellspring DVD
The Stationmaster's Wife - Unreleased (VHS released by New Yorker)
Women in New York - Unreleased
Despair - Unreleased (VHS released by Connossieur)
Germany in Autumn (Omnibus film with Fassbinder segment) - Unreleased (VHS released by World Artists Home Video)
The Marriage of Maria Braun - Criterion DVD
In a Year with 13 Moons - Fantoma DVD
The Third Generation - Unreleased
Berlin Alexanderplatz - Unreleased
Lili Marleen - Unreleased
Lola - Criterion DVD
Theater in a Trance - Unreleased
Veronika Voss - Criterion DVD
Querelle - Columbia/Tri-Star DVD

[yoshimori]

Third Generation, Germany in Autumn, and Lili Marleen have been released in Germany, but, afaik, without subtitles.

[jorencain]

Has anyone actually seen "Berlin Alexanderplatz"? I find myself REALLY wanting someone to release it, but I don't know if it's any good. I have read that it's his "masterpiece," but that's it. Any more info or thoughts about it are welcome

[tristan]

I've seen it, and though it definitely takes patience (and near impossible to watch in one sitting), it is definitely a masterpiece. Most of the episodes up until the last one are long dialogue scenes. The last episode is very surreal, and a fitting conclusion to the epic. I would suggest that you don't see it until you have seen a lot of what is already out there, then try tackling it. I don't think it's "his masterpiece", because that makes it sound like he only had one. I personally prefer Veronika Voss, followed by Effi Briest, Martha, Fox and His Friends, and Beware of a Holy Whore.

[zedz]

Berlin Alexanderplatz really is the culmination of Fassbinder's career. I saw it twice (!) over the course of a week many years ago. Although it's physically demanding (if not impossible) to see it in one sitting, the more intensive an experience you can make it the better: it has an incredible cumulative power and you really need to track the development of the characters carefully to get the most out of it - Fassbinder knows these characters inside out, and you can too if you wire yourself into the film. It's a claustrophobic, painfully intimate film, so being locked into it helps it work. And the epic dream-ending really needs to be seen hot on the heels of the rest of the film.

What I find so extraordinary about the film is Fassbinder's mastery of tones and narrative modes he rarely explored in his other works. At the outset, the film seems much straighter than the rest of his work, but the ultra-long form allows him to do unusual things with pacing that most filmmakers never get to try. I'm thinking in particular of the sequence of Mieze's death, during which the film becomes extremely dark and excruciatingly, brilliantly slow: the sense of dread that builds up is crushing.

Although the film was made for television, Fassbinder conceived it as a cinematic work. When the first episodes were broadcast, many of the scenes were too dark to register on the TV screen.

[solent]

The thing that interested me about BERLIN ALEXANDERPLAZ was of how interesting every episode was, despite the dark subject-matter and the typical slow Fassbinder pace. I expected some padding and some boring moments but found myself interested throughout. The fact that I didn't like Hollywood style films/TV helped I suppose. I had similar experiences with BRIDESHEAD REVISITED & HEIMET.

As to CHINESE ROULETTE. I love the film but find it to be the most illogical of all of Fassbinder's works, in terms of its ending. I still can't work out the ending but it doesn't matter though. With the other films that make sense in terms of the fassbinder universe I find the logic is tautological but ROULETTE's ending always baffles me.

[Nihonophile]

How did you guys see the mini series?

[zedz]

In 16mm, circulated by the wonderful Goethe Institut. I was actually projecting some of it.

[tristan]

Eight bootleg VHSs.

[Michael]

Just watched two of Fassbinder's nearly unknown films - Martha and Fear Of Fear. I wouldn't be surprised if Martha is going to knock down Veronika Voss as my favorite Fassbinder film in the near future. It's great, bizarre and beautifully filmed. A fascinating, hysterical, disturbing love story. Margit Carstensen and Fassinder are the perfect marriage (not Hanna Schygulla, sorry!). I find Margit utterly impossible to shift my attention away from. What a face she has! Steeped with blistering expressions and emotions. I love her movements, the way she carries herself about. I could watch her walking especially in her (trademark?) pumps down a cobblestone road for hours. Fear of Fear is just as trippy as Martha and both films are equally breathtaking. I happen to find myself loving Martha more.

I couldn't recommend every one of you enough to settle down with those two TV (?!) films of Fassbinder.

Waiting for my Petra Von Kant DVD to arrive.

[tartarlamb]

I've never seen a Fassbinder film. His body of work is daunting to say the least, and I've never figured out a good starting point. I've just ordered Fox and His Friends, and I hope thats a good introduction.

But what is the best film to start with? It seems like every film has its fans and its detractors -- is there *one* film that stands out to all Fassbinder fans?

[jesus the mexican boi]

I've never seen a Fassbinder film. His body of work is daunting to say the least, and I've never figured out a good starting point. I've just ordered Fox and His Friends, and I hope thats a good introduction.

But what is the best film to start with? It seems like every film has its fans and its detractors -- is there *one* film that stands out to all Fassbinder fans?

I think THE MERCHANT OF FOUR SEASONS is a fine introduction. There are echoes of it in many of Fassbinder's other films, and its beautifully shot and acted. Also, the DVD is loaded with extras, including Wim Wenders' commentary and two early shorts.

[duane hall]

i second Jesus' recommendation of The Merchant of Four Seasons. i'm a relative fassbinder newbie, but it's one of my two favorites of the five i've seen, the other being Ali: Fear Eats the Soul. both have a similar, quietly desperate tone (even using some of the same music). they're richly photographed and among the most tenderly humanistic films i've seen. and it's nice to hear Wenders on Merchant's commentary.. another soothing german voice..

i'll be seeing Martha, 13 Moons and Chinese Roulette soon.
i hope Margit Carstensen does more for me in Martha than she did in Bitter Tears.

[Michael]

Any Fassbinder films could make a great introduction. Just pick the ones that catch your attention the most. For instance, the previous two posts recommend The Merchant of Four Seasons - one of the very few Fassbinder films that failed to "blow up my dress". See, how people have different ideas about what film makes the great intro to Fassbinder. What an amazingly unique director.

Ali: Fear Eats The Soul is an easy favorite. I actually prefer Fassbinder's women-driven films which I find the most powerful and visceral of all Fassbinder films - Martha and Veronika Voss. In A Year of 13 Moons is his most darkest and painful film and I couldn't find the strength to sit through this one again.

[zedz]

I find it fascinating how Fassbinder's body of work has managed to resist canon-forming. Even after a quarter of a century, there seems to be only a sketchy consensus about which are his most significant films. Partly this is due to the sheer size of his body of work, but I think it's also a comment on his consistency. Another contributing factor might be that what is clearly his magnum opus, Berlin Alexanderplatz, is so hard to see.

That said, I think the following are major Fassbinder that are also representative and accessible, and probably the nearest thing to canon-fodder:
Merchant of the Four Seasons
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
Effi Briest
Marriage of Maria Braun
Veronika Voss

But once you've acquired the taste, there are plenty more wonderful films to experience: Martha (I share your enthusiasm for this heady, Sirk-gone-rancid melodrama, Michael), In a Year of 13 Moons, Chinese Roulette. . .

I would recommend not tackling any of the pre-Merchant films until you've come to terms with post-Sirk Fassbinder (unless you're a huge Paul Morrissey fan, in which case you should head straight for Whity). And there are a couple of films that I think are just failures (Querelle and Lili Marleen - which isn't even an interesting failure)

And then there are the unavailable ones. Berlin Alexanderplatz is the most glaring omission, but what about the trance-like, trippy Bremen Freedom?

[Brian Oblivious]

I've just ordered Fox and His Friends, and I hope thats a good introduction. But what is the best film to start with?

Fox and His Friends was my introduction and I immediately connected to what Fassbinder was doing. And I still think its one of his best films. In other words, I think its a splendid introduction.

[jesus the mexican boi]

I find it fascinating how Fassbinder's body of work has managed to resist canon-forming. And then there are the unavailable ones. Berlin Alexanderplatz is the most glaring omission, but what about the trance-like, trippy Bremen Freedom?

Yeah... and tops on my list of missing RWF is "JAILBAIT" (aka WILD GAME, aka WILDWECHSEL). I'd really like to see this, being a big Eva Mattes/Harry Baer fan. That, and the chance to see Fassbinder do the teen delinquent roadmovie. BADLANDS New German Cinema-style.

[solent]

John Sandford's book THE NEW GERMAN CINEMA (1980) is well researched. His chapter on Fassbinder gives many filming dates and his filmography seems to be correct. As most Fassbinder freaks know various sources list his films in different order. I will now be using Sandford's which lists the major films in the following order [filming dates are in brackets].

Films [not incl. TV plays] in order of release:
LOVE IS COLDER THAN DEATH [WINTER 1969]
KATZELMACHER [8/69]
GODS OF THE PLAGUE [AUTUMN 1969]
HERR R [12/69]
RIO DAS MORTES [1/70] See the used car seller's receipt book
WHITY [4/70 - This filming date may be wrong. I have guessed it. A hotter time of the year is more probable so June to July might be more plausible, i.e. after NIKLASHAUSEN.]
NIKLASHAUSEN [5/70]
AMERICAN SOLDIER [8/70]
HOLY WHORE [9/70]
PIONEERS [11/70]
MERCHANT OF 4 SEASONS [8/71]
PETRA [1972]
WILD GAME [1972]
FEAR EATS THE SOUL [9/73]
MARTHA [EARLY AUTUMN 1973]
EFFI BRIEST [AUTUMN 1972 then, after a lengthly break due to an actor's illness etc., AUTUMN 1973]
FOX [SPRING-SUMMER 1974]
MOTHER KUSTERS [SPRING 1975]
FEAR OF FEAR [SPRING 1975]
I ONLY WANT YOU TO LOVE ME [1976]
SATAN'S BREW [1976]
CHINESE ROULETTE [1976]

[Michael]

Happy Birthday to Fassbinder. He's 60 years old today.

PS Just learned that Brigitte Mira died two months ago.

[lachenay]

Just came across the re-vamped Fassbinder Foundation website, highly recommended. Among other things, it has a complete listing of Fassbinder DVDs around the world.

[jesus the mexican boi]

Interestingly, it includes hotlinks for those DVDs, and no links where there are no DVDs available (makes sense). HOWEVER, there IS a hotlink for JAIL BAIT (WILDWECHSEL) though it shows no DVD cover. Is the Fassbinder Foundation trying to tell us something?

Here's to hoping we see Fassbinder's version of BADLANDS soon. I'm always up for pouty teen angst Eva Mattes-style.

[NoHayBanda]

I would recommend not tackling any of the pre-Merchant films until you've come to terms with post-Sirk Fassbinder (unless you're a huge Paul Morrissey fan, in which case you should head straight for Whity). And there are a couple of films that I think are just failures (Querelle and Lili Marleen - which isn't even an interesting failure)

I don't want to argue against you or anything, I'm just curious what it was you didn't like about Lili Marleen? I saw a print of it just a few months ago and absolutely loved it.

Does anybody know where I can get a german language/english subtitled copy of this? I know there are a few English-dubbed bootlegs floating about and a non-subtitled German DVD. Am I just out of luck?