Directors: Rainer Werner Fassbinder and New German Cinema
As a leading figure in New German Cinema, Rainer Werner Fassbinder was a part of a generation that proclaimed in 1962, “The old cinema is dead. We believe in a new cinema.” In celebration of his birthday, we present a collection of films from this radical movement that sought to confront the social and artistic concerns of its time.
Wings of Desire
(Der Himmel über Berlin)
There are angels on the streets of Berlin.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany, France • 1987
- Director Wim Wenders
- Cast Bruno Ganz, Otto Sander, Solveig Dommartin, Curt Bois, Peter Falk, Hans Martin Stier
- Genre Drama, Fantasy, Romance
- Available on Criterion Channel, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Apple TV, Max, Max Amazon Channel
Lola
A cabaret singer pits a corrupt property developer against the new high-minded and principled building commissioner in postwar Germany.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany • 1981
- Director Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Cast Barbara Sukowa, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Mario Adorf, Matthias Fuchs, Helga Feddersen, Karin Baal
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max, Max Amazon Channel
Marianne and Juliane
(Die bleierne Zeit)
Two sisters, one a journalist and one a terrorist, fight for women’s civil rights in very different ways.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany • 1981
- Director Margarethe von Trotta
- Cast Jutta Lampe, Barbara Sukowa, Julia Biedermann, Ina Robinski, Rüdiger Vogler, Doris Schade
- Genre Drama
- Available on Kanopy
Nosferatu the Vampyre
(Nosferatu - Phantom der Nacht)
Nosferatu… he who is doomed to wander alone in darkness.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany, France • 1979
- Director Werner Herzog
- Cast Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz, Roland Topor, Walter Ladengast, Martje Grohmann
- Genre Drama, Horror
- Available on Freevee, Microsoft Store, Shudder, Shout! Factory TV, Popcornflix, Redbox, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Crackle, The Film Detective, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Kanopy, Peacock Premium, Plex, Tubi TV, YouTube, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Fandor Amazon Channel, Shudder Amazon Channel, AMC+, Apple TV, Peacock, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , fuboTV
The Marriage of Maria Braun
(Die Ehe der Maria Braun)
A German woman named Maria struggles to live through World War II.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany • 1979
- Director Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Cast Hanna Schygulla, Klaus Löwitsch, Ivan Desny, George Eagles, Gisela Uhlen, Elisabeth Trissenaar
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max, Max Amazon Channel
The Tin Drum
(Die Blechtrommel)
A savage, sweeping epic of a German society in chaos.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany, France, Poland • 1979
- Director Volker Schlöndorff
- Cast Mario Adorf, Angela Winkler, David Bennent, Katharina Thalbach, Daniel Olbrychski, Tina Engel
- Genre Drama, History, War
- Available on Criterion Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Max, Max Amazon Channel
Fox and His Friends
(Faustrecht der Freiheit)
Survival of the fittest.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany • 1975
- Director Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Cast Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Peter Chatel, Karlheinz Böhm, Adrian Hoven, Christiane Maybach, Harry Baer
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Criterion Channel, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Vudu, YouTube, Apple TV, Max, Max Amazon Channel
The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum
(Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum)
A housekeeper is harassed by the public for her affair with an alleged terrrorist.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany • 1975
- Director Margarethe von Trotta
- Cast Angela Winkler, Mario Adorf, Dieter Laser, Jürgen Prochnow, Heinz Bennent, Hannelore Hoger
- Genre Crime, Drama
- Available on TCM, Criterion Channel, Max, Max Amazon Channel
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
(Angst essen Seele auf)
Finding love at an old age isn't always easy, but when Emmi meets Ali, both their lives are changed.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany • 1974
- Director Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Cast Brigitte Mira, El Hedi ben Salem, Barbara Valentin, Irm Hermann, Elma Karlowa, Anita Bucher
- Genre Romance, Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Max, Max Amazon Channel
Alice in the Cities
(Alice in den Städten)
A German writer journeys with a young girl through Europe in a quest to find her grandmother.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany • 1974
- Director Wim Wenders
- Cast Rüdiger Vogler, Yella Rottländer, Lisa Kreuzer, Edda Köchl, Ernest Boehm, Sam Presti
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Vudu, YouTube, Apple TV
World on a Wire
(Welt am Draht)
Cybernetics engineer Fred Stiller uncovers a massive corporate conspiracy involving a virtual reality computer project.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany • 1973
- Director Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Cast Klaus Löwitsch, Barbara Valentin, Mascha Rabben, Karl-Heinz Vosgerau, Wolfgang Schenck, Günter Lamprecht
- Genre Drama, Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery
- Available on Criterion Channel
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
(Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes)
A breathtaking journey into the heart of darkness.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany, Mexico • 1972
- Director Werner Herzog
- Cast Klaus Kinski, Helena Rojo, Del Negro, Ruy Guerra, Peter Berling, Cecilia Rivera
- Genre Adventure, Drama, History
- Available on Freevee, Microsoft Store, Shout! Factory TV, Criterion Channel, Popcornflix, History Vault, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Cohen Media Amazon Channel, VUDU Free, Plex, Tubi TV, YouTube, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Fandor Amazon Channel, Apple TV
The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
(Die bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant)
Sex is the ultimate weapon.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany • 1972
- Director Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Cast Margit Carstensen, Hanna Schygulla, Katrin Schaake, Eva Mattes, Gisela Fackeldey, Irm Hermann
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Max, Max Amazon Channel
Young Törless
(Der junge Törless)
A shy boy at boarding school does nothing as his classmates bully a fellow student - until the torture goes too far.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany, France • 1966
- Director Volker Schlöndorff
- Cast Mathieu Carrière, Marian Seidowsky, Bernd Tischer, Fred Dietz, Lotte Ledl, Jean Launay
- Genre Drama, History, Thriller
- Available on Criterion Channel