Love Is Colder Than Death [Liebe ist kälter als der Tod] *** (1969, Ulli Lommel, Hanna Schygulla, Rainer Werner Fassbinder) – Classic Movie Review 6197

Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s chilly and attractively unusual 1969 low budget German black-and-white film is his first feature, valuable as an interesting apprentice work of this important director. It tells a dour and doomy noir-style gangster story, as seen through the eyes of a movie buff.

It survived negative reviews and booing at the 19th Berlin International Film Festival in 1969 to be better received in the UK and US. It was given a boost when cinematographer Dietrich Lohmann and the ensemble cast won awards at the German Film Awards in 1970. Finally now it is admired as a stylish nouvelle vague-influenced early work.

It stars Ulli Lommel as Bruno, Rainer Werner Fassbinder as Franz and Hanna Schygulla as Joanna. In the plain and straightforward story, Fassbinder plays small-time pimp and petty hood Franz, torn between his prostitute mistress Joanna and Bruno, the handsome young thug gangster sent after him by the mob he refused to join. Franz and Bruno become friends, sharing Joanna, who becomes bored with Bruno. The three then plan a bank robbery.

Also in the cast are Katrin Schaake as Lady, Liz Soellner as Newspaper Saleswoman, Gisela Otto as Prostitute, Ursula Strätz as Prostitute, Monika Stadler as Waitress, Hans Hirschmüller as Peter, Les Olvides as Georges, Peer Raben as Jürgen, Howard Gaines as Raoul, Peter Moland as Interrogator, Kurt Raab as Department Store Detective. Peter Berling as Weapons Seller and Anastassios Karalas as Turkish Man.

The film is dedicated to ‘Claude Chabrol, Éric Rohmer, Jean-Marie Straub, Linio and Cuncho’. Linio and Cuncho are the main characters in Damiano Damiani’s 1966 film A Bullet for the General.

Ulli Lommel’s look and the poster are inspired by Alain Delon in Le Samouraï (1967).

Peer Raben is also the film’s producer.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6197

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Alain Delon in Le Samouraï (1967).