Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

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Mohamed K A haunting and emotionally resonant exploration of love, loneliness, and the corrosive effects of prejudice in post-war Germany. Drawing inspiration from Douglas Sirk's melodramas, Fassbinder crafts a deeply affecting narrative that transcends its specific cultural context to speak to universal themes of human connection and societal oppression. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/12/24 Full Review LAZI S What an amazing and forelooking movie. Was shoot in 1974. Can't image. The anthem of against any kind of phobia and prejudice!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/03/24 Full Review Blob 9 There are not many love stories revolving around May December relationships, but when they are made there is nothing else like it; unique, engrossing, sad and beautiful. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/24 Full Review Dave S On the surface, Rainer Werner Fassbinder's Ali: Fear Eats the Soul has a cold and austere look and feel to it, typical of Fassbinder's body of work. However, once you delve into it, there is an undeniable warmth that is generated primarily by its smart script and interesting premise. Emmi (Brigitte Mira) is an aging widow, abandoned by her children and working an unsatisfying job as a cleaner. Ali (El Hedi ben Salem) is a young Moroccan immigrant who lives with five other men in a small apartment and spends his time with a small group of friends in a neighborhood bar. When the two start a romantic relationship and eventually marry, they find themselves further isolated in a xenophobic world. While it is emotional and touching, it wisely avoids being nauseatingly sentimental. The accolades heaped on it may be a bit excessive, but it remains a stark and moving film about the power of human connections and the hatred that sometimes exists outside of these connections. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/28/23 Full Review Audience Member From a poster that overflows humanity and a long-suffering love, "Ali Fear Eats Soul" is phenomenal. Fassbinder's obsessive directing work is in stark contrast to the script, this sometimes skews the material. The film is unique. 8/10 Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Absurd, moving, cringe, sweet, angry, funny. It's got a bit of everything. A weird but brilliant clash of cultures and generations with two amazing lead performances. More than anything it felt like an essay on loneliness of the elderly and the dislocated immigrant. Brilliantly made and worthy of its status as a classic of European cinema. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

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