Ali - Fear Eats the Soul - Criterion Collection

Rating:
Summary: Moving and beautiful.
Review: This movie is not simply about racism, xenophobia, or any soap box preaching - these are simply the background. In the foreground is a touching story about human frailty, love, and compassion.

Rating:
Summary: Moving and beautiful.
Review: This movie is not simply about racism, xenophobia, or any soap box preaching - these are simply the background. In the foreground is a touching story about human frailty, love, and compassion.

Rating:
Summary: A story of forbidden interracial love
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

"Ali: Fear Eats the Soul" known in Germany as "Angst essen Seele auf" is a very impressive film and is one of the more interesting ones I have seen.

In this film, an elderly German widow meets and falls in love with a much younger Moroccan Arab immigrant. When her friends find out, they ridiclule her and when she announces her intentions to marry him, her family disowns her. She is constantly stared at by people on the street and is driven into near-depression because of her relationship.

The film has sometimes (and incorrectly as many people contend,) been regarded as a remake to the 1955 film "All That Heaven Allows" also released by the Criterion Collection. The plot elements are similar in many respects, with the exception to the couple being interracial.

The film was made in response to the racial tensions and anti-Arab sentiment in Germany at the fime following the terrorist attack on the 1972 Olympics in Munich. The film gives an important case for the controversey of interracial marriage which even today some have misgivings about. One can say that another reason for their relationship to be frowned upon is from the copule being of different religions. Though there are a significant number on non-Muslim Arabs. There is no indication in the film though that either of them are religious so if they are both secular, it is not really interfaith. Besides most people devout in their faith would only marry someone of the same faith for a number of reasons, mainly being disagreements about which faith they would raise their children with. Some may speculate that the next remake may involve a homosexual couple, possibly one may have already been made. Not being impartial or neutral to my feelings about homosexuality, I decline to comment further. You've likely already heard most sides of the argument.

The film has some fine acting and contains some great photography. The acting is very impressive for a film with a low budget and remains a popular film to this day.

The Criterion Collection DVD has some nice special features also.

Disc one contains the film and a the theatrical trailer.

Disc two contains the short film "Angst isst Seele auf." This is a film shot in first person perspective about an Arab living in Germany who is a victim of a hate crime by group of neo-nazis.

There is also the BBC documentary "Signs of Vigourous Life: New German Cinema," a scene from the film "The American Soldier", an interview with actress Brigitte Mira and film editor Thea Eymèsz. There is also an introduction to the film presented by American film director, Todd Haynes.

This is a film that should not be missed.

Rating:
Summary: An intimate portrayal
Review: Undoubtly, Fassbinder made this film thinking in Douglas Sirk. The script is carefully made, around a woman in her third age who decides breaking the rules.
"It's easier to break an atom instead a prejuice". The Einstein's statement is translated to this picture with all its consequences.
Once more , Fassbinder becomes in the warning voice of a troubled Germany surrounded by past phantoms.
A simply movie , but in hands of Fassbinder reached the major possible level.
Watch this film. It will let you thinking.

Rating:
Summary: An intimate portrayal
Review: Undoubtly, Fassbinder made this film thinking in Douglas Sirk. The script is carefully made, around a woman in her third age who decides breaking the rules.
"It's easier to break an atom instead a prejuice". The Einstein's statement is translated to this picture with all its consequences.
Once more , Fassbinder becomes in the warning voice of a troubled Germany surrounded by past phantoms.
A simply movie , but in hands of Fassbinder reached the major possible level.
Watch this film. It will let you thinking.