A collection of six early films from the prolific and controversial German writer and director. 'Love Is Colder Than Death' (1969) is Fassbinder's debut feature in which he also stars as Franz, a petty criminal who befriends a killer for hire who falls for Franz's prostitute girlfriend. In 'Katzelmacher' (1969) a group of friends become increasingly cruel when a migrant worker from Greece rents an apartment from one of them.
'Beware of a Holy Whore' (1971) takes place during a film shoot in Spain where the cast of the movie eagerly await the arrival of their director Jeff (Lou Castel) and star (Eddie Constantine). They pass the time together in their hotel until their director eventually arrives, but the production fails to get off the ground smoothly. In 'Merchant of Four Seasons' (1971) Hans Epp (Hans Hirschmuller) decides to set up his own business as a street fruit seller in 1950s Germany after returning from serving in the French Foreign Legion.
With little support from his wife Irmgard (Irm Hermann) or bourgeois family, a despondent Hans turns to alcohol to drown his sorry existence, a habit that only brings more problems into his life. 'The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant' (1972) is based on Fassbinder's own play. Fading fashion designer Petra von Kant (Margit Carstensen) celebrates her birthday by receiving a succession of female acquantainces to her apartment, all of whom have contributed to her teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
Finally, long-time Fassbinder collaborator Ulli Lommel directs 'Tenderness of the Wolves' (1973) based on the true story of German serial killer Fritz Haarmann. The actual events took place in the depression but the film updates the story to the closing years of World War Two. Haarmann was the Sweeney Todd of Hanover, an unrepentant killer who vampirised his victims, sliced and diced the corpses and sold the meat on the black market - and was sheltered from the law by his position as a police informer.
Special Features
- Interviews: Rainer Werner Fassbinder (director, 1978); Ulli Lommel (actor/director); Lou Castel (actor); Jürgen Jürges (cinematographer); Rainer Will (actor)
- Commentary: 'The Merchant of Four Seasons': Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Christian McCrea (critics); 'Beware of a Holy Whore': Adrian Martin; 'The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant': Diane Charleson (filmmaker); 'Tenderness of the Wolves': Ulli Lommel
- Other Documentary: 'End of the Commune?' (1970); 'Role-Play: Women On Fassbinder' (1992)
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