With Emmi Kurowski (Brigitte Mira) of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, she finds love twice in her life. First with her now-deceased husband, now with a young Moroccan named Ali (El Hedi ben Salem). Of course this new union has caused a bit of an uproar with Emmi's family and friends.
As most people (well, cinephiles) know, a heavy influence for Ali: Fear Eats the Soul was Douglas Sirk's All That Heaven Allows. The premise is similar: a widow starts a relationship with a young man, stunning those closest to her. Granted, Mira and Ben Salem aren't exactly Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson in the way of looks but they definitely make up with talent.
The premise isn't the only shared link between Fassbinder and Sirk's films. Both films are set in a time where acting outside of the social norms will brand you a pariah. (Fassbinder's film is set in socialist Germany; Sirk's in 1950's America.) Like that remotely bothered the leading ladies.
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul is a film that's both familiar yet new to me in the way of its style. (Mind you, this is the first Fassbinder film I've seen.) I have a very strong feeling that more of Fassbinder's work will be in my future. Why? The man knew how to make a film, that's why.
My Rating: *****
Great review, glad you liked this one. I highly suggest you watch The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant or The Marriage of Maria Braun next. Both among my favourite Fassbinders, particularly the former.
ReplyDeleteI've only seen The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant as this film is in my official Blind Spots lists for this year. I'm eager to see more of Fassbinder's work.
ReplyDeleteI'm adding this to my to-see list as we speak.
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