#758: FASSBINDER, Rainer Werner: The Merchant Of Four Seasons (1971)

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FASSBINDER, Rainer Werner (Germany)
The Merchant Of Four Seasons [1971]
Spine #758
Blu-ray


New German Cinema icon Rainer Werner Fassbinder kicked off a new phase of his young career when he made the startling The Merchant of Four Seasons. In this anguished yet mordantly funny film, Fassbinder charts the decline of a self-destructive former policeman and war veteran struggling to make ends meet for his family working as a fruit vendor. Fassbinder had gained acclaim for a series of trenchant, quickly made early films, but for this one he took more time and forged a new style — featuring a more complexly woven script and narrative structure and more sophisticated use of the camera, and influenced by the work of his recently discovered idol, Douglas Sirk. The result is a meticulously made, unforgiving social satire.

88 minutes
Color
Monaural
in German
1:37:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2015
Director/Writer



A

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Twelve-page wraparound featuring an essay by film scholar Thomas Elsaesser.

Commentary

Featuring filmmaker Wim Wenders.

Interviews

With actors Hermann and Hirschmüller.

Interview

With film scholar Eric Rentschler.

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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