Rainer Werner Fassbinder directs Barbara Sukowa, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Mario Adorf in this drama about the economics and corruption of a town in post-war Germany.

The central three leads performances are really strong but the movie feels lost in its gilding and metaphor. Most of the action takes place at a fantastically luxurious brothel or concerns town planning meetings. There’s a real poetry here, often quite sensual then equally quite Brechtian and abrasive. There is enough strong, fascinating content to praise but I wouldn’t race to rewatch. I read afterwards this was intended as an unofficial remake of Josef von Sternberg ‘s The Blue Angel… and I’m surprised I didn’t clock that until it was spelt out for me. What do I know, hey? I just get distracted by the pretty period lingerie and endure the cold drama.

6

Perfect Double Bill: The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979)

My wife and I do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/