THE MARRIAGE OF MARIA BRAUN

Germany, 1979, 120 minutes, Colour.
Hannah Schygulla, Klaus Lowitsch, Ivan Desny, Hark Bohm.
Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

A popular success from popular and prolific German film-maker Rainer Werner Fassbinder. It tells the story of a German war bride, her waiting and search for her husband, her giving up hope, her entanglement with an American black soldier, her moving into the world of big business. While the plot is interesting on the level of human interaction, it serves as a symbol for the changes in Germany from the end of World War II to its place in the world as an industrial and business power. The film ultimately takes a pessimistic tone. Performances are excellent, the production is very well done and persuasive. Hannah Schygulla gives a complex interpretation of Maria Braun over several decades. Entertaining and interesting in itself and a very good illustrating of German cinema trends of the seventies.

1. The overall impression of the film? Entertainment? The film within the work of Fassbinder? Its popularity outside Germany in the late seventies?

2. The film as an example of German cinema of the seventies, photography, editing, production values, acting?

3. The significance and symbolism of the title? The quick, even farcical marriage at the beginning with the bombs falling and the documents disappearing? The relationship of Maria and Herman? This relationship pervading the whole film? Maria's waiting for her husband and considering herself married, even with her liaison with the black American? Herman's going to prison for her and the continuation of the marriage over the prison years? Maria's relationship with the industrialist and the strength of her marriage? The culmination of the marriage at the end? The reality of the marriage, its symbolism? Themes of commitment and fidelity?

4. Maria Braun as symbol of Germany - her experience during the war, the being a war bride, the pain of separation, the time of search? Her decision not to search any more? Her work in the bar, liaisons with American soldiers? The sordid atmosphere of this time? Her taking on responsibilities? The death of her child and the imprisonment of her husband? Her trying to cope by herself, flirting, the mistress of the industrialist and her success? Her abilities and her achievement? Her amorality? Yet the intensity of her relationship to her husband? Her trying but not being able to stay with the husband in his self-sacrifice? His departure and her waiting and receiving the roses? The culmination of the marriage and her death?

5. How well did the film develop Maria as a character - as a young girl at the time of her marriage, her changing with her waiting at the station, the discussions with Betti? Betti's husband's return and the news of Herman's death? Her relationship with her mother and grandfather? Hunger, bargaining for food and cigarettes? Her working at the club and the make-up? The deal with the owner of the club? Her relationship with the negro, learning English, the picnic sequences, the love scenes? The experience of the liaison for her and yet her fidelity to her marriage? The pregnancy? The impact of Herman's return and his standing at the door during their love-making? The sudden transition to Maria's killing the black man? Her behaviour in the court case, her not seeming to realise what had gone on? Her firmness in fidelity to her husband? The attacks of the prosecutor? Her response to Herman's decision to go to prison? The pregnancy and the loss of the child, the discussions with her doctor friend? The train journey and her going into the first class, the encounter with the industrialist and ingratiating herself into his favour, the swearing and abusive language to the soldier? The meetings, her ability in international negotiations? Her self-image and growth in confidence? The clash with the accountant, the favour of the industrialist?

6. Her years working for the firm, her business sense, her wise decisions, the clashes with the accountant? The ability at negotiations and risks? The work in the office, the clashes with the secretary? The fashionable meals together? Sexual liaison - on her terms?

7. The experience with the industrialist - flirting with him, sleeping with him, eating with him? His visit to her mother's birthday party? The irony of his discovering Herman and befriending him in the prison? Her visits to Herman and her telling the truth about her relationship with the industrialist?

8. The illustrations of her career - in the industrial disputes with Willi, the statements to the newspapers? The visits with Betti and the memories of the past and the school days, Betti's regretting her marriage with Willi? Discovering her mother and the lover? The party and the dancing?

9. The portrait of the industrialist - his success, his absence during the war, friendship with the accountant, the accountant's attack on his absence during the war? His love for Maria, his visit to the prison, the final telephone call and his death? The loyalty of his accountant and the accountant's grief? The terms of his will and their effect on Maria and on Herman?

10. The picture of Herman - at the farcical wedding sequence, his absence, the timing and suddenness of his return, his reaction in the court room, his decision to take the blame for the death, the experience of prison, the release and his message for Maria, the leaving of the roses? His final return with self-respect, the new house, wanting to resume the marriage?

11. Maria's decline after the industrialist's death, the house in order to be alone, her becoming affluent and fashionable, her drinking, her being sick in the restaurant? Her reaction to Herman's return? Flirting with him, the possibility of the future? The response to the will? Her death - why?

12. The political background of the film and the use of sounds during the film: Hitler during the credits and the marriage sequence, the radio and the long list of names of people who were lost during the war, music, the football match during the reading of the will and the ironic stating of the score at the end? The critique of post war Germany? What were the criteria for the critique and the judgments made?

13. A strong human drama, the depth of its study of human beings, of its allegory of modern Germany?