Rent Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Vol.1: Why Does Herr R. Run Amok? (1970)
3.7 of 5 from 65 ratings
1h 24min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Fassbinder's first international success observes middle-class conformity and alienation with a finely judged balance of empathy and dark satire. Mild-mannered Herr R. works in an architectural practice and lives with his wife and son. His time is spent ambling through the monotony of his daily routine and indulging in meaningless small talk. But one shocking evening, Herr R. finds he can take no more.
- Actors:
- Lilith Ungerer, Kurt Raab, Lilo Pempeit, Franz Maron, Harry Baer, Peter Moland, Hanna Schygulla, Ingrid Caven, Irm Hermann, Doris Mattes, Hannes Gromball, Vinzenz Sterr, Maria Sterr, Peer Raben, Eva Pampuch, Carla Egerer, Thomas Keck, Hanna Axmann-Rezzori, Johannes Fengler, Paul Haller
- Directors:
- Michael Fengler, Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Writers:
- Michael Fengler, Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Aka:
- Warum läuft Herr R. Amok?
- Studio:
- Artificial Eye Film Company Ltd.
- Genres:
- Drama
- Collections:
- The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Countries:
- Germany
More like Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Vol.1: Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?
Found in these customers lists
Reviews (1) of Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Vol.1: Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?
Cringing monotony made compelling viewing. - Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Vol.1: Why Does Herr R. Run Amok? review by NP
The dangers of taking someone for granted!
We all get into a rut from time to time and it is human nature not to always respect others. This is very much how Herr Raab finds himself - or at least, how his nearest and dearest find him. Part of the perverse joy of watching RW Fassbinder films is that we're only privy to what he wants us to be privy to. We observe people, and hear their (often meaningless) small talk, but don't necessarily know what they're thinking. Raab seems to endure his lot with stoicism.
There are parallels within Fassbinder's to that of the UK's celebrated director Mike Leigh: the minutiae of the everyday takes on a new and often murky meaning under their lens. And yet their observational film-making is never boring. Such is the case here. Throughout the cringingly monotony, there is the feeling that not all is well.
Pressures to succeed, to conform, to literally keep up with the Joneses, delivered so casually on a day-to-day basis with no possible way out shows very well the smallness of existence. An unforgiving life study, this is well worth a watch.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.