Rotten
What is new for a Fassbinder work is that the film is far more entertaining to watch than it is interesting to speculate about. That means it's a disappointment.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Overview
The story of a German singer named Willie, who while working in Switzerland, falls in love with a Jewish composer named Robert, whose family is helping people to flee from the Nazis. Robert’s family is skeptical of Willie, thinking she could be a Nazi as she becomes famous for singing the song “Lili Marleen”.
Director and cast
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder Director
- Hanna Schygulla as Willie Bunterberg
- Giancarlo Giannini as Robert Mendelsson
- Christine Kaufmann as Miriam Mendelsson
- Mel Ferrer as David Mendelssohn
- Karl-Heinz von Hassel as Henkel
- Erik Schumann as von Strehlow
- Hark Bohm as Taschner
- Gottfried John as Aaron
- Karin Baal Cast
- Udo Kier Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
50%
Tomatometer
Fresh
It has a wicked sense of humor, displayed in Fassbinder's two favorite opposites, understatement and hyperbole.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Rotten
The meanings are banal and the pace is heavy, but Fassbinder's use of color -- as throughout his late period -- is superb.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
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