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The German films from the seventies and eighties have instantly recognizable flavor

76.99.186.92

Victor Khomenko

In that sense Sheer Madness is not unique. It has the footprints of several great German directors, but it is still different enough to keep you interested.
The film is made by a woman, and is - in addition to speaking the universal human language - about women. Usually I walk away totally unimpressed from such films, as they tend to have not much else to show besides some social statement... usually a weak and trivial one at that. This one goes deeper... although it too eventually slides towards trivialities.
Some folks love Hanna Schygulla, some hate her... I fall squarely in the middle. Without any questions she is one of the most significant actresses of the period, yet somehow failing to grab my heart. In this movie, however, she truly shines - as she does, for instance in The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant - one of my favorite films of hers... she was, after all Fassbinder's favorite muse.
For her performance alone this film would be worth a rent (or a stream), but the director managed to shoehorn in some bergmanesque dark story, which, actually, is the most interesting of the several parallel story lines.
All in all, an uneven piece of movie making, still deserving a look.

Edits: 11/30/10

Follow Ups:

Yes, 'Mother K�sters Goes to Heaven' and 'Chinese Roulette' are like great complex meals slowly savored. - Tony D. 00:10:24 12/02/10 (0)
Then come back to for another tasting and the realization that a true master is stirring the pot.

J.B.
Good point about Hanna. I feel the same about the various women of Bergman, none of them - tinear 08:16:29 11/30/10 (7)
particularly multi-faceted. All rather lifeless, bloodless.
Back to Hanna: she had so many roles, so many quite different ones, but I can't help thinking how, after so many great roles, she still didn't "impress."
A good actress, in other words, but one who didn't rise to the quality of her great director.
- But how high would that great director have risen if not for her presence? - Victor Khomenko 08:26:58 11/30/10 (6)
  Maybe she IS that woman who is behind every great man... like a rocket booster that does its invisible job and then goes into the shadow, if not oblivion.
  
  Be it as it may, my wife now wants to revisit all her films... which should should keep us busy for quite a while... :) Plus usually you get tired half way through any such marathon and feel like changing horses.
  - I don't know, Vic. I started down the Fassbinder path and didn't - tinear 14:28:02 11/30/10 (5)
    stop.
    Once you get used to his world, it's as addictive for the viewer as obviously it was for his ensemble. It's quite unlike anything else, really, with its strange criminal element, its emotionally devastated zombies, and its ironically honorable thieves, whores, and murderers.
    - She didn't just play in his films, of course - Victor Khomenko 14:42:10 11/30/10 (4)
      It might be an interesting exercise, though, as I suspect there will be films available today that were not years ago.
      - Many, many of his films have come available the last several years. I particularly enjoy his very early crime - tinear 17:16:25 11/30/10 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: She didn't just play in his films, of course posted by Victor Khomenko on November 30, 2010 at 14:42:10
        
        films.
        
        Specifically, the films Fassbinder acted in. nt - tinear 21:19:23 11/30/10 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Many, many of his films have come available the last several years. I particularly enjoy his very early crime posted by tinear on November 30, 2010 at 17:16:25
        
        g
        
        Fox and His Friends has a brilliant performance by Fassbinder... - semuta 12:11:12 12/02/10 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Specifically, the films Fassbinder acted in. nt posted by tinear on November 30, 2010 at 21:19:23
        
        with a full frontal shot thrown in for those who are so inclined.
        
        Yes, Fass was a very good actor-- I don't know why he hasn't gotten more recognition for it. nt - tinear 20:47:34 12/02/10 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Fox and His Friends has a brilliant performance by Fassbinder... posted by semuta on December 02, 2010 at 12:11:12
        
        fds

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