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Regarded as one of the high-water marks in German New Wave cinema of the 1970s, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul is at once an intense portrayal of a relationship and a tribute to one of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's film heroes, Douglas Sirk.
All Critics (34) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (0) | DVD (2)
The performances of Brigitte Mira and El Hedi Ben Salem as Emmi and Ali are superb; they act with instant sympathy and charm and in their own way, they are the most purely lovable characters I have ever seen on a movie screen. Mar 30, 2017 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
The performances of Brigitte Mira and El Hedi Ben Salem as Emmi and Ali are superb; they act with instant sympathy and charm and in their own way, they are the most purely lovable characters I have ever seen on a movie screen.
Peter Bradshaw
One of the most beautiful films ever made, plain and simple. Mar 27, 2017 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
One of the most beautiful films ever made, plain and simple.
Tom Huddleston
Fassbinder's historicism is a crucial aspect of his modernism: he didn't just make use of prior forms, he quoted them, and derived from them the ironies implicit in his melodramatic styles. Jun 3, 2014 | Full Review…
Fassbinder's historicism is a crucial aspect of his modernism: he didn't just make use of prior forms, he quoted them, and derived from them the ironies implicit in his melodramatic styles.
Richard Brody
This 1974 film stands as one of Fassbinder's sturdiest achievements, posed between the low-budget funkiness of his early features and the mannerism of his late period. May 25, 2011 | Full Review…
This 1974 film stands as one of Fassbinder's sturdiest achievements, posed between the low-budget funkiness of his early features and the mannerism of his late period.
Dave Kehr
Technically flawless, deceptively simple and avoiding excesses, it is about problems that are timely and timeless in implications. Jun 26, 2008 | Full Review…
Technically flawless, deceptively simple and avoiding excesses, it is about problems that are timely and timeless in implications.
Variety Staff
Fassbinder uses dramatic and visual excess to push everyday events to extremes, achieving a degree of political and psychological truth not accessible through mere social realism. Jan 26, 2006 | Full Review…
Fassbinder uses dramatic and visual excess to push everyday events to extremes, achieving a degree of political and psychological truth not accessible through mere social realism.
Nigel Floyd
An intentional air of theatrical experimentation - almost as if Fassbinder is playing on the excesses of the representations to make clear the prejudices in German society. Nov 10, 2018 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
An intentional air of theatrical experimentation - almost as if Fassbinder is playing on the excesses of the representations to make clear the prejudices in German society.
PJ Nabarro
It's a film nearly devoid of emotional artifice no matter its dramatic trappings. Aug 28, 2018 | Full Review…
It's a film nearly devoid of emotional artifice no matter its dramatic trappings.
Andrew Parker
It even manages something like a happy ending without sugar-coating the still poignantly relevant themes.Timely and heartbreaking, some 43 years after its debut. Apr 26, 2017 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
It even manages something like a happy ending without sugar-coating the still poignantly relevant themes.Timely and heartbreaking, some 43 years after its debut.
Tara Brady
The performances are flawless; the themes remain timely. Apr 2, 2017 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
The performances are flawless; the themes remain timely.
Wendy Ide
Fassbinder made so many incredible films, but this is certainly up there with his finest. Mar 30, 2017 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
Fassbinder made so many incredible films, but this is certainly up there with his finest.
David Jenkins
The prolific auteur was a huge admirer of Douglas Sirk, and there are echoes here of All That Heaven Allows, but the intensity is all Fassbinder. Mar 28, 2017 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
The prolific auteur was a huge admirer of Douglas Sirk, and there are echoes here of All That Heaven Allows, but the intensity is all Fassbinder.
Jamie Graham
A delicate and deeply resonant melodrama like only Fassbinder could have made, telling with plenty of honesty a simple but objective love story centered on revolting matters like prejudice and racism - problems relevant even today when it comes to immigrants in Europe.
Super Reviewer
One of cinema's most unconventional love stories is also one of the most touching and authentic I've ever seen. A simple and sweet little triumph from Fassbinder, with Brigitte Mira giving a completely unforgettable performance.
For sure in my all time top 5. The first time I watched this I was glued to the screen. It totally took me by surprise. The scene where Fassbinder cameos as the son-in-law objecting to the relationship is perfect.
Very touching movie. Emmi is one of the great screen heroines.
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