A made-on-HD video documentary about fascinating European filmmaker
Rainer Werner Fassbinder, directed by the equally notable Rosa von Prauheim, this feature attempts to shed light on his rocky life in a tell-all fashion. The film interviews several artists who worked with Fassbinder, dating back to the mid-'60s, when the director was invited to participate in the experimental Action Theatre group, which he quickly seized control of. He was known to have uncontrollable mood swings that could alienate others without warning, to take out aggressions on his cast and crew, and to demand sexual favors and money whenever required. The movie also focuses on the women in his life, especially actress
Hanna Schygulla, who made quite a career out of her work for the tumultuous director. Known widely as a gay man, Fassbinder still required the attention of females, whom he often proposed to and turned to for comfort. Among the figures that the documentary interviews are actress
Jeanne Moreau, whom Fassbinder cast in his final film
Querelle, famous cinematographer
Michael Ballhaus, and producer
Peter Berling, the latter of whom doesn't recount the happier times with the troubled but brilliant director, who he died of an overdose in 1982.
~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide