In "Angst Essen Seele Auf" - literally translated: "Fear To Eat Soul Up", we have one of those characteristic cases where the director, R.W. Fassbinder, plays one of the ugliest roles in the movie by which he intended to pillory all those who do the same, his wife is played by Irm Hermann, and for connoisseurs: practically the whole "Fassbinder family" is in this movie. However, new was the main actress, Brigitte Mira, who used to be a star on stage, film and TV since her earliest childhood, but never really had her break-through, until she was discovered by Fassbinder when she was already approximately 60 years old. The present movie, another one, "Mutter Küsters Fahrt Zum Himmel", and a few smaller, but also important roles before and after made so-to-say over-night a world-star out of her, and whoever has the opportunity to listen to the interview she gave in the age of 93 on the special bonus-disc, curated well as usually by Criterion, will by all means enjoy that quite specially.
But nevertheless, the movie does not only tell the story of "Ali" and Emmy and their impossible or "forbidden" love, but, more precisely, there is a triangle story in the background, caused by Ali's indecisive relation to the character of Barbara Valentin (who looks as gorgeous in this movie that her appearance alone makes you at least watch it twice). She is the owner of the "Asphalt-Schenke", where Ali and his Arabic colleagues congregate every evening for beer and Oriental music. The relationship between the two German girls in the bar and the Arabic men seems to be good, even couscous is cooked. So, one asks oneself why it was necessary that one rainy evening Emmy had to seek shelter in the bar where after Ali takes the first possibility to move in to her and even marry her. The famous words which gave the title of the movie Ali speaks one night to her, underlining her "kindness" and opposing her to "all other Germans", "for whom Arabic people are dogs, not humans". However, when the first problems between Ali and Emmy arise, Alis flees to Barbara who seem to have awaited him long before and opens her door with wide arms, also cooks his couscous and sleeps with him. So, although this movie has the usual great dramaturgy going back to Fassbinder himself, the relationship between Ali and Barbara is not fully motivated. Why did he not marry her instead of old Emmy?
But nevertheless, the movie does not only tell the story of "Ali" and Emmy and their impossible or "forbidden" love, but, more precisely, there is a triangle story in the background, caused by Ali's indecisive relation to the character of Barbara Valentin (who looks as gorgeous in this movie that her appearance alone makes you at least watch it twice). She is the owner of the "Asphalt-Schenke", where Ali and his Arabic colleagues congregate every evening for beer and Oriental music. The relationship between the two German girls in the bar and the Arabic men seems to be good, even couscous is cooked. So, one asks oneself why it was necessary that one rainy evening Emmy had to seek shelter in the bar where after Ali takes the first possibility to move in to her and even marry her. The famous words which gave the title of the movie Ali speaks one night to her, underlining her "kindness" and opposing her to "all other Germans", "for whom Arabic people are dogs, not humans". However, when the first problems between Ali and Emmy arise, Alis flees to Barbara who seem to have awaited him long before and opens her door with wide arms, also cooks his couscous and sleeps with him. So, although this movie has the usual great dramaturgy going back to Fassbinder himself, the relationship between Ali and Barbara is not fully motivated. Why did he not marry her instead of old Emmy?