I have really liked some of Fassbinder's films, so I cannot be accused of being "anti-Fassbinder". BUT, I really hated this film. It was amateurish throughout--with a lousy score, indifferent acting and dopey direction. It was VERY obvious that this was one of Fassbinder's first films because it has so many obvious flaws and looks more like a home movie. Let me give a few examples:
1. When the lead shoots one lady and the man with her to death, she is very obviously breathing as he leaves the room. I could easily see this while watching it on a DVD on TV, so I'm sure on a large screen it was even more apparent. Normally, this flaw would have been spotted and the scene re-shot.
2. The end of the movie is choreographed poorly and comes off very sloppily.
3. The actors, at times, have trouble with their lines. Once again, a director would NORMALLY re-shoot the scenes.
4. The suicide scene is, perhaps, one of the most poorly acted and pointless scenes I have ever witnesses. Most high school plays have greater realism.
The film appears heavily influenced by Jean-Luc Godard and in some ways looks like a knock-off of the movie, Alphaville. This is a real shame, as Alphaville is another terrible film that has been seen, by some, as great art--while the average person would probably find the films amateurish and choppy.
FYI--this is a VERY explicit film in places, so parents beware.
Also, during one scene in the film, one of the actresses tells a story. Apart from a few changes, the story she told later was made by Fassbinder into ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL. A very interesting touch indeed, but not enough to save this film.
1. When the lead shoots one lady and the man with her to death, she is very obviously breathing as he leaves the room. I could easily see this while watching it on a DVD on TV, so I'm sure on a large screen it was even more apparent. Normally, this flaw would have been spotted and the scene re-shot.
2. The end of the movie is choreographed poorly and comes off very sloppily.
3. The actors, at times, have trouble with their lines. Once again, a director would NORMALLY re-shoot the scenes.
4. The suicide scene is, perhaps, one of the most poorly acted and pointless scenes I have ever witnesses. Most high school plays have greater realism.
The film appears heavily influenced by Jean-Luc Godard and in some ways looks like a knock-off of the movie, Alphaville. This is a real shame, as Alphaville is another terrible film that has been seen, by some, as great art--while the average person would probably find the films amateurish and choppy.
FYI--this is a VERY explicit film in places, so parents beware.
Also, during one scene in the film, one of the actresses tells a story. Apart from a few changes, the story she told later was made by Fassbinder into ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL. A very interesting touch indeed, but not enough to save this film.