Review of Katzelmacher (1969) by Marcus W — 19 Oct 2013

Fassbinder's second feature sees his career-long themes already in full-bloom. These characters are inhumanely cruel to each other, even as they maintain a posture of friendship. Of course, outsiders are treated especially inhumanely -- as demonstrated here in the way that the several couples that populate the film (and apartment block) react hostilely to the Greek immigrant (referred to by the slang word, Katzelmacher, which seems to refer to sexual behaviour as well as foreign worker status).

Fassbinder implies that money drives all human relationships and shows us this in a number of prostitution-like relationships. To get us to focus on such themes, everyone is using emotionless Brechtian delivery here and the cinematography suggests a translated play (everyone faces the audience).

But there are also purely cinematic devices (a recurring tracking shot involving pairs of characters strolling arm in arm) in use. I like Fassbinder, so I might find this more engaging than the average viewer -- but if you like this one, there are further masterpieces to discover.