A carnival worker (Fassbinder) wins a lottery but his wealth doesn't last long as predatory 'friends' begin to swarm around him.
In FOX AND HIS FRIENDS painfully skinny Fassbinder essays one of his most memorable lead roles.The film explores the director's favourite theme: longing for and simultaneous deep distrust of any kind of relationship.
A lot of the cast of this gay drama occasionally featured in Eurocult films.
Harry Baer (Fernando Di Leo's I PADRONI DELLA CITTA '76) plays the man whose charms threaten to destroy Fox's idyllic cohabitation with Peter Chatel (Aldo Lado's WHO SAW HER DIE?). Adrian Hoven (producer of a Jess Franco classic SUCCUBUS'68, in which he also co-stars) is cast as Chatel's father who also wouldn't mind a piece of Fox's fortune to save his firm from bankrupcy. Karl Boehm (PEEPING TOM) has a part as the furniture dealer who introduces Fox to the gay community.
The story is dramatically flawed, but purposely so. Fassbinder isn't just constructing a tear-jerker here. He is trying to make a point: exploited people are complicit in their own misery and suffering.
FOX AND HIS FRIENDS can be alternatively viewed as a colourful melodrama or as an anti-gay (!), mysoginistic picture, as well as a critique of capitalism. But it's worth seeing all the same.
Hey, Alex.
ReplyDeleteThis is probably my favorite (or one of my favorite) Fassbinder films. My cousin was a huge fan of Fassbinder and turned me on to his work years ago. He was also quite the Fassbinder scholar and knew an amazing amount of information on the man. I remember him telling me that Fassbinder realized, before making Fox, that he would have to be naked a lot in the film. So, Fox prompted him to get into shape.
Very astute observation, here, Alex:
"The story is dramatically flawed, but purposely so. Fassbinder isn't just constructing a tear-jerker here. He is trying to make a point: exploited people are complicit in their own misery and suffering."
Excellent point. There are lots of interpretations of this film, but I like yours. There's also the opposite interpretation, here, too. In other words, Fassbinder believes that everyone should be treated humanely just because they are human. Everyone's self-absorbed, greedy nature is actually fighting against their own happiness, ironically. In case, your assessment of the film is spot on, Alex.
Always enjoy reading your thoughts, Alex. Your probably the closest kinship that I have in the "blogosphere" to my own cinematic tastes. Hope all is well.
Your feedback and support means a lot, Hans and your comments are most welcome.
ReplyDeleteI must have seen FOX AND HIS FRIENDS at least four times in the last two years. It's one of Fassbinder's less pretentious efforts.
The way love and relationships are treated in this film appeals to me a lot. Love is exposed as a form of oppression.
I want to post more on the man's work. His films can be very frustating at times, but always original.
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