There are various threads on Herzog, Fassbinder and foreign language films, but I wanted to start a new condensed one.

So, I have watched and enjoyed the following this week:

Aguirre: The Wrath Of God
Fear Eats The Soul
Lives Of Others

So good.

What else should I look out for?

I was wanting to buy that Berlin Alexanderplatz, but it was like £55.

it's not one of Fassbinder's most popular films but i really like "Chinese Roulette" with Anna Karina and "Satan's Brew" is plain fucking nuts.

Herr Lehmann
Good bye Lenin
Go for Zucker

Sunrise...see Sunrise

chairman_hall wrote:Aguirre: The Wrath Of God

great one there. if youre into herzog...

fitzcarraldo is set in south america, much like aguirre. fitzcarraldo is def a good one, but even more interesting is les blank's documentary on the making of fitzcarraldo, which turned out to be an ordeal and a half; this documentary is called burden of dreams.

i should mention: in this thread, it's only a matter of time before someone cracks a "triumph of the will" joke.

fritz lang is the classic of germany, metropolis being the obvious one; but fury (which was filmed/produced in the US, not germany) was a really great film, many years after metropolis so it's got sound and a clear picture and all.... and a great story, great directing.

Fear Eats the Soul was great. It had a bonus feature that discussed the new wave of German directors in the 70's an I can't remember a single name. That country was put in an interesting position as far as movie making is concerned.

Many of Wim Wenders early, lesser known (pre-Paris, Texas) films are very good--The American Friend (with Dennis Hopper and Samuel Fuller), State of Things (IIRC, leftover film stock from this was used to shoot Stranger Than Paradise), Alice in the Cities, Kings of the Road are all worth a look. And The Wrong Move with Nastassja Kinski.

Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire

It's easy to tire of all the gushing about this movie, but Wings of Desire truly is a revelation. Henri Alekan cinematography. Peter Handke collaborated on the script.

I find the dilemma of whether to stay an angel or become human endlessly interesting. Angels hear peoples’ thoughts and thus know them in a ways humans never could. Humans never really know anyone but experience the sensual wonder of everyday living. Also, I very much identify with Marion and her wishing for "an end to coincidence", to stop feeling like everything in her life is random and circumstantial--like she could easily drop the "blue eyed" man she's currently in love with, cross the street and take up with the "brown eyed" stranger.

"Is today a good day?" asks an ecstatic Damiel moments after becoming human.
"Ja, I guess," confirms bewildered passerby.

Fantastic soundtrack too.

Also, anything by Herzog or Fassbinder.

Herzog's Stroszek, which takes place in Wisconsin, is a winner.

newberry wrote:Herzog's Stroszek, which takes place in Wisconsin, is a winner.

Too true.