Lili Marleen (1981)

TOMATOMETER

40%
29%

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

76%

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Movie Info

Inspired a song that was extremely popular with the German soldiers during WW II, this fictional story begins in 1938 while Wilkie Bunterberg (Hanna Schygulla), a third-tier cabaret singer, performs in a Zurich nightclub. It is her boyfriend, a Swiss Jew who also turns out to be a resistance fighter who pens her the famous song Lili Marleen. She sings it in Germany and it becomes a hit with the German troops. As a result, Hitler himself invites her to perform for him. This does not set well with the songwriter's powerful who, upon learning that Marleen has become a famed singer in Germany, seek to have her barred from Switzerland. This does not stop the songwriter from loving her though and desperate to see her one last time, he sneaks into Berlin for a tryst. Unfortuantely he is arrested and she gets blacklisted. They do not see each other again until after the war. By this time, their lives have changed considerably. This is not considered among the best of Fassbinder's best films. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Cast

Hanna Schygulla
as Wilkie Bunterberg
Giancarlo Giannini
as Robert Mendelsson
Mel Ferrer
as David Mendelsson
Karl-Heinz von Hassel
as Henkel
Erik Schumann
as von Strehlow
Christine Kaufmann
as Miriam
Hark Bohm
as Tascher
Karin Baal
as Anna Lederer
Udo Kier
as Drewitz
Gottfried John
as Aaron
Elisabeth Volkmann
as Marika
Barbara Valentin
as Eva
Helen Vita
as Grete
Adrian Hoven
as Ginsberg
Willy Harlander
as Prosel
Rainer Will
as Bernt
Lilo Pempeit
as Tamara
Alexander Allerson
as Goedecke
Rudolf Lenz
as Dr. Glaubrecht
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
as Guenter Weissenborn Rainer
Franz Buchrieser
as Thorne
Raul Giménez
as Blonsky
Roger Fritz
as Kauffmann
Brigitte Mira
as Neighbor
Herb Andress
as Reintgen
Michael McLernon
as Swiss officer
Harry Baer
as Norbert Schultze
Daniel Schmid
as Doorman
Peter Chatel
as SA man
Dirk Galuba
as 4th SD man
Sonja Neudorfer
as Mrs. Buerli
Irm Hermann
as Nurse
Herbert Steinmetz
as Doctor
Juergen Draeger
as Journalist
Toni Netzle
as Mrs. Prosel
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Critic Reviews for Lili Marleen

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (7)

Fassbinder's energy and imagination, in tandem creating strong, visceral images, justify and vindicate his excesses. He is, simply, one of very few directors in the world today who seems to be pouring everything he has into his medium.

Apr 26, 2018 | Full Review…
Boston Globe
Top Critic

Fassbinder repeatedly depicts the song comforting lonely soldiers and then accompanying scenes of carnage. The devastating effect boomerangs.

Aug 4, 2015 | Full Review…
Washington Post
Top Critic

Fassbinder at half speed is still good, but this film... is still a disappointment.

Aug 3, 2015 | Full Review…
People Magazine
Top Critic

What is new for a Fassbinder work is that the film is far more entertaining to watch than it is interesting to speculate about. That means it's a disappointment.

Sep 18, 2006 | Rating: 2/5
New York Times
Top Critic

The meanings are banal and the pace is heavy, but Fassbinder's use of color -- as throughout his late period -- is superb.

Jun 3, 2006 | Full Review…
Chicago Reader
Top Critic

Elaborate proof that the devil really does have all the best tunes.

Jun 3, 2006 | Full Review…
Time Out
Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (10)

Audience Reviews for Lili Marleen

One may wonder why Fassbinder decided to indulge himself in an unimpressive, seemingly underdeveloped Hollywood-like movie made only for entertainment, and it loses its way in the last act to the point of even including a completely pointless self-reference.

Carlos Magalhães
Carlos Magalhães

Super Reviewer

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Lili Marleen Quotes

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