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A versatile talent and a significant figure in the New German Cinema, R.W. Fassbinder's works shine across the spectrum of movie, television and theatrical performances. He was a director, playwright, actor, cinematographer, composer, film critic and writer. Famous for his prodigious and inventive output, he completed more than 40 works of cinemas and TV within his short span of film career.
Eight significant titles including Fassbinder's debut feature "Love is Colder than Death" which was highly praised at the Berlin Film Festival, "Lili Marleen", "The Marriage of Maria Braun", "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant", "Despair", "In a Year of 13 Moons", "The Third Generation" and "Veronika Voss" will be showcased from December 6 to 8 at the Hong Kong Science Museum Lecture Hall, and from December 27 to 29 at the Hong Kong Film Archive Cinema.
With the assistance of Goethe-Institut Hong Kong, "R.W. Fassbinder - Love is Colder than Death" is the last series of retrospective film programme "Repertory Cinema - A Spectrum of Film Classics and Masters" presented by the Film Programmes Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Curated by Mr Law Wai-ming, the repertory cinema has featured different European film masters in the past few months.
Born in a little German town, Fassbinder had been involved in play writing and drama performance before graduating from college. He had a wild image in private life. However, when it came to filmmaking, Fassbinder was more than serious, his films never ran out of astonishing ideas and style. He might restrict all the actions within a lavish apartment as in "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant"(1972) or tell the Sunset Boulevard story of the glamorous "Veronika Voss"(1982).
His works covered numerous subjects including taboos on those dark corners of human life. According to many film critics, his significance in German cinema equals that of Freud in psychology and Shakespeare in drama. He died of drug overdose at the early age of 37, yet his unprecedented openness of showing his true self to the world has been legendary.
Based on the charming melody during Second World War and life of its singer Lale Andersson, the opening film "Lili Marleen"(1980) is Fassbinder's sweetest and most affectionate work with praises to his fantastic plot and energetic mise-en-scene. The love story features singer Lili Marleen who with her melting voice and enchanting beauty made her the queen of fame in Nazi Germany. Yet, her love with a talented Jewish composer was at a wrong timing, making the fate of a Jew highly critical.
In "Love is Colder than Death" (1969) which won him international acclaims, Fassbinder plays the role of Franz and entangles in a triangular love and desire relations with a prostitute and a male friend. Despite the prostitute trying her best to secure her relationship with Franz including robbing a bank, she has to share Franz with his man friend.
"The Marriage of Maria Braun" (1978) and "Veronika Voss" (1982) are both taken from Fassbinder's "Post-War Trilogy", in which he has established himself as a director with outstanding artistic achievement while staying very close to the public. "The Marriage of Maria Braun" depicts the tragic love life of a newly wed couple at the outbreak of the war and the wife ends up becoming schizophrenic. The film not only was a box office hit but won the Film Award in Gold (Best Direction) at German Film Award in 1979 while the leading actress Hanna Schygulla won the Best Actress at Berlin Film Festival in 1979 with her brilliant interpretation of the character.
"Veronika Voss" is based on the true story of movie star Sybille Schmitz who was killed by overdose of drugs in the 50's. A reporter uncovers that the former movie star Veronika is heavily addicted to drugs and is captivated by the doctor who supplies her with drugs at huge cost. The exploitation that happens between Veronika and her doctor mirrors the hidden crisis of capitalism. The film won the Best Film at the Berlin Film Festival in 1982. The impressive lighting contrast and the black and white filming technique has created a sense of cruelty with startling and unforgettable images.
Sharing a similar theme on women, "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant" (1972) is filmed in a confined big house, telling the weird relations between homogenous and heterogeneous love, master and servant, as well as sadist and masochist of three females, a fashion designer, a model and a personal assistant.
Fassbinder made the film "In a Year of 13 Moons" (1978) in the memory of his ex-lover who committed suicide in his home after they had broken up. Through the last five days of life of a trans-sexual, the director shows the audience the coldest side of the city. His stamina to take up the positions of screenplay writer, director, cameraman, art director and film editor of the film has been astonishing.
Could a man change his fate by exchanging identity with someone alike? In "Despair" (1977), a chocolate factory owner who comes to a turning point of business and love, finds an opportunity to change his life when he encounters a man who looks exactly like him. Based on Vladimir Nabokov's renowned novel with adaptations made by famous screenplay writer Tom Stoppard, the film won the Film Award in Gold (Best Direction) at the German Film Award in 1978.
Hailed as the director's most sophisticated independent production, "The Third Generation" (1979) features a gang of young terrorists over different social status. They are disappointed by social rules but without the power to override the reality. Executing various conspiracies is their only way to attain self-assurance.
All screenings at the "R.W. Fassbinder - Love is Colder than Death" are in German with English subtitles. "Lili Marleen", "The Marriage of Maria Braun" and "Veronika Voss" also have Chinese subtitles.
Tickets are priced at $50 each and are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-priced concessionary tickets are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. A 10 percent discount is available for each purchase of three screenings or five to seven tickets and 20 percent discount for five screenings or eight tickets and above as well as Manhattan id card members.
Enquiries can be made at 2734 2900 or by browsing the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp. Reservations can be made at 2734 9009 and internet booking at www.urbtix.gov.hk.
End/Thursday, November 28, 2002
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