well... it's a good, wellmade movie... no doubt about that... It just doesn't do anything in particular for me...

"Ali's terse speaking matter is ripe with aphorisms, but it's also another way for Fassbinder to evoke the suspended animation of his character's lives." - Ed Gonzalez

Fassbinder's exaggerated style with heavy-handed symbolism and stiff acting undermines the purposed satire. The racist society depicted here is too extreme to relate to and the lack of proper character motivation makes the love story unbelievable. A more subtle style would have worked much better. As is, it's ultimately a rather dull and irrelevant film.

A perfect, rare blending of artistic, emotional and political expression. Deceptively simple and beautifully made.

200

Its themes are simple and pretty overt, but Fassbinder brings weight with two original, sympathetic characters. It is an unconventional, yet strangely touching romance.

Una película poco convencional.

The tension in this movie is thick. I'm a big fan of All that Heaven Allows, and this movie, while i suppose is a remake, is unique and original in its own way that it warrants to be viewed as its own, and not a rehash of any sort.

The racial themes are a bit heavy handed at times (though they become more complex later in the film), but the romance is subtle and touching in a way that few other films can compare to. Sad without being overbearing and not without a sense of hope. And the photography is absolutely beautiful; Sirk's influence shows in every shot.

Oddly enough, this kind of Sirkian melodrama works better in German films than American.

Gorgeous, colorful, quirky love story about an older woman and a foreign man falling in love, and the reactions of those close to them. Confronts racism and ageism in a somewhat simple but genuine way. The film initially seems a bit shallow, simplistic, and wooden, but in the end turns into one of the more complex, heart-wrenching love stories I've seen in a while, especially knowing the history between Fassbinder and lead actor El Hadi ben Salem.

#212

It's a strong film about intolerance but it could've been done better. It's too simplistic and overly tragic on one hand, but it also feels incomplete in a sense - it's not an impression I can explain, but it's like Fassbinder establishes some themes (such as how people are nice to Emmi to take advantage of her, or how she herself excludes other coworkers) and never fully develops them. It still a great, very vivid film; but it should have been longer.

For a movie that is known for its subtlety it really beats you to death with its obvious and boredom inducing message. The acting is possibly the worst I've ever seen in my life and this is coming from someone who's seen multiple Rob Schneider movies. It would've been comical if they weren't so damn serious but Fassbinder clearly thinks this is really some deep shit but I "got" it within 15 minutes and it just becomes an exercise in masturbation. Not 100% terrible but way too overpraised.

Touching.

One of the best and original romance stories that I've ever see. It's spellbinding with soulful acting and has great chemistry between the actors. Fassbinder's direction is superb.

This was an odd one for me. The romance was strong, as Fassbinder manages to make what could've been a very forced and unconvincing romance into something that unfolded naturally. And as sweet and well-constructed as this was, it was a little blunt and I didn't find it very compelling. Score is not a grade.

Sometimes lacking in any subtlety in its portrayal of racism, but really great in every other way.

# 214