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Conjured from the unholy meeting of two iconoclastic queer artists, Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s final film audaciously raises Jean Genet’s controversial novel to the level of myth. In an expressionistic soundstage vision of a French seaport town—bathed in fiery reds and complete with phallic spires—a strapping sailor and unrepentant criminal (Brad Davis) comes ashore to arouse passion, rivalry, and violence among the libidinal denizens drawn into his orbit. Enacted with dreamlike stylization by a cast of international stars, including Jeanne Moreau and Franco Nero, Querelle finds Fassbinder pushing his taboo-shattering depiction of gay desire to delirious extremes.

BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

Restored high-definition digital master, approved by director of photography Xaver Schwarzenberger, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
New interview with critic Michael Koresky on director Rainer Werner Fassbinder's aesthetics and visual storytelling
Rainer Werner Fassbinder—Last Works, a 1982 documentary by Wolf Gremm
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by critic Nathan Lee

New cover by Astra Zero

No longer cut that Julianne Lorenz has talked about. Damn

is there any reason to get this over the existing Artificial Eye disc that can be had for like $15?

Shame it’s not a UHD. Or the longer cut.

Artificial Eye’s release has different extras:

- Introduction to Querelle by Volker Schlondorff (7mins)
- The Twilight of Bodies: Fassbinder's Search for Querelle (36 mins)


The fly-on-the-wall documentary included on the Criterion is meant to be pretty great if you’re a Fassbinder fan so I’ll be double dipping anyway.

Also, they couldn’t find anyone to discuss Genet? No commentary?

Peacock wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:50 pm Shame it’s not a UHD. Or the longer cut.

Artificial Eye’s release has different extras:

- Introduction to Querelle by Volker Schlondorff (7mins)
- The Twilight of Bodies: Fassbinder's Search for Querelle (36 mins)


The fly-on-the-wall documentary included on the Criterion is meant to be pretty great if you’re a Fassbinder fan so I’ll be double dipping anyway.

just was reading about how the doc covers him in Kamikaze 1989 and the making of this film....that does seem like a must watch. I am a huge fan of Fassbinder, even if this is the movie (along with 13 Moons) where our sensibilities align least...if that makes sense. really didn't want to have to own this edition and put that cover on my shelf!

beamish14 wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:51 pm Also, they couldn’t find anyone to discuss Genet? No commentary?

worth noting they haven't done a commentary for a RWF film since the BRD Trilogy box!

ryannichols7 wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:39 pm is there any reason to get this over the existing Artificial Eye disc that can be had for like $15?

The AE disc is missing English subs for the French intertitles, so if Criterion fix that, it’ll be worth buying regardless of any other shortcomings. I thought this disc was never coming out.

ryannichols7 wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:53 pm

Peacock wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:50 pm Shame it’s not a UHD. Or the longer cut.

Artificial Eye’s release has different extras:

- Introduction to Querelle by Volker Schlondorff (7mins)
- The Twilight of Bodies: Fassbinder's Search for Querelle (36 mins)


The fly-on-the-wall documentary included on the Criterion is meant to be pretty great if you’re a Fassbinder fan so I’ll be double dipping anyway.

just was reading about how the doc covers him in Kamikaze 1989 and the making of this film....that does seem like a must watch. I am a huge fan of Fassbinder, even if this is the movie (along with 13 Moons) where our sensibilities align least...if that makes sense. really didn't want to have to own this edition and put that cover on my shelf!

beamish14 wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:51 pm Also, they couldn’t find anyone to discuss Genet? No commentary?

worth noting they haven't done a commentary for a RWF film since the BRD Trilogy box!

and Fassbinder probably would’ve been pissed to hear Wenders talking about him

Brad Davis’ widow wrote a very moving memoir about him, and I would’ve loved to get her insights

beamish14 wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:51 pm Also, they couldn’t find anyone to discuss Genet? No commentary?

On a related note it occurs to me that this would have been the ideal opportunity to try to get Genet's Un Chant d'Amour on Blu, since I doubt Cult Epics will ever prioritize it for an upgrade. Not sure what the rights situation is with that film (is it public domain?) but I would have bought Querelle just for that.

My favorite Fassbinder and one of my favorite films period. It will be great to have this especially given that the UK release was flawed as Adam alludes to above. The addition of the Wolf Gremm doc is a real plus but the continued absence of The Wizard of Babylon for whatever reason is deeply disappointing.

John Cope wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:07 pmthe continued absence of The Wizard of Babylon for whatever reason is deeply disappointing.

I wasn’t aware of this doc until now, and now I’m deeply disappointed, too.