Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

This tale of intermingled love and hate is directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and is the 13th of the 33 films he made in his short life. It explores the universal dynamics present in close human relationships, even lesbian ones. Petra Von Kant (Margit Carstensen) is a fashion designer. Some time ago, she divorced the husband she no longer loved. Until recently, she has been in a fairly satisfactory S & M relationship with her assistant. When she develops an obsession with her fashion model, however, things become far more complicated. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Mono
• Screen: Pan and Scan
• Subtitle: English
• Features:
  • • New transfer made from restored print
    • 5.1 sound
    • Two bonus short films: The City Tramp and The Little Chaos
    • Bonus documentary: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
    • Commentary track by Jane Shattuc, author of Television, Tabloids, and Tears: Fassbinder and Popular Culture
    • Subtitle control
    • Weblinks
    • Filmographies

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Director:

  Rainer Werner Fassbinder

• Producer:

  Rainer Werner Fassbinder

• Screenwriter:

  Rainer Werner Fassbinder

• Cinematographer:

  Michael Ballhaus

• Composer (Music Score):

  The Platters

• Featured Music:

  Giuseppe Verdi

• Composer (Music Score):

  Walker Brothers

• Editor:

  Thea Eymèsz

• Art Director:

  Kurt Raab

REVIEW:

• Very much a "love it or hate it" kind of movie, The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant is also a movie unlike any other. Rainer Werner Fassbinder revels in the fact that Petra is played entirely on one set -- and not an especially large one at that. The claustrophobia of this setting mirrors the suffocation that is part and parcel of these characters' world, a suffocation caused by a lack of communication which is in turn caused by their perverse obsession with power. This obsession is most obvious in the sado-masochistic relationships of the characters, in which dominance and subservience are key, but it trickles down into every aspect of their lives. Yet despite the fact that Petra is a one-set film, Fassbinder makes it cinematic. His compositions in each and every frame are stunning, and his lengthy shots have a grace and depth to them that provide impact. The dialogue throughout is arch, stilted, artificial and highly quotable; it's over the top and deliberately unrealistic, adding to the distancing effect that mirrors these character's inability to communicate in a sane and humane manner. To play such dialogue requires intense commitment on the part of the actors, and those in Petra are brilliant. Yes, they are stylized and unrealistic, but that's what Fassbinder is going for and they are fascinating and spellbinding -- even the silent Irm Hermann. Lead Margit Carstensen is deserving of special mention for her committed, devastating performance. Those who tune in to Fassbinder will find Petra a challenge but a thrill; those who don't will be incredibly bored. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi