I Only Want You to Love Me

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I Only Want You to Love Me

1976

1h 44m

Drama

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100%

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9 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Peter (Vitus Zeplicha) is a hardworking bricklayer who lives a lonesome life. His parents are cruel and unloving and his wife (Elke Aberle) is distant. In an attempt to finally win their affection, Peter builds his parents a home. But when that fails to yield the desired result, he instead moves his wife to Munich and showers her with lavish gifts. And though he cannot afford this lifestyle, he keeps at it. The pressure ultimately proves too great and he loses control, succumbing to alcoholism.

Simon Abrams

House Next Door

Without Rainer Werner Fassbinder's characteristic sense of detachment, the director's Sirkian melodrama I Only Want You to Love Me wouldn't be nearly as engrossing as it is.

Feb 25, 2011

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Stephen Holden

New York Times

A grim Germanic variation on a classic theme that can never bear too much repeating: Can't buy me love.

Jan 15, 2005

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Interesting if somewhat didactic.

Jan 1, 2000

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Andrew Lowry

Total Film

It's Fassbinder's eye for detail and psychology that drives things home.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 12, 2012

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Sean Axmaker

Turner Classic Movies Online

... he brings a morose naturalism to the film even as creates an atmosphere of isolation through the performances.

Dec 17, 2011

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Every image slices like a shiv

Feb 13, 2010

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Audience Member

A great psychological character study - Fassbinder's makes the audience so sympathetic to Allerson that we must forgive him for his sins.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

Fassbinder was a genius!!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Director

Vitus Zeplicha

Peter Trepper

Elke Aberle

Erika

Alexander Allerson

Vater Ernst Trepper

Katherina Buchhammer

Ulla

Johanna Hofer

Erikas Großmutter

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Synopsis

Peter (Vitus Zeplicha) is a hardworking bricklayer who lives a lonesome life. His parents are cruel and unloving and his wife (Elke Aberle) is distant. In an attempt to finally win their affection, Peter builds his parents a home. But when that fails to yield the desired result, he instead moves his wife to Munich and showers her with lavish gifts. And though he cannot afford this lifestyle, he keeps at it. The pressure ultimately proves too great and he loses control, succumbing to alcoholism.

Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Producer: Peter Märthesheimer
Screenwriter: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Genre: Drama
Original Language: German
Release Date (DVD): Oct 1, 2015
Runtime: 1h 44m