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The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972)
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showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972) More at IMDbPro »Die bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant (original title)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
5 October 1972 (West Germany)
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Tagline:
Sex is the ultimate weapon.
Plot:
Petra von Kant is a successful fashion designer -- arrogant, caustic, and self-satisfied. She mistreats Marlene (her secretary...
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Awards:
3 wins
&
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
The Fabulous Linker Boy
(From FilmExperience. 30 April 2012, 6:02 AM, PDT)
Venice 2011. Roman Polanski's "Carnage"
(From MUBI. 2 September 2011, 10:58 AM, PDT)
Jack Ferver Presents Fassbinder’S “Bitter Tears…”
(From Filmmaker Magazine. 11 August 2011, 9:04 PM, PDT)
(From FilmExperience. 30 April 2012, 6:02 AM, PDT)
Venice 2011. Roman Polanski's "Carnage"
(From MUBI. 2 September 2011, 10:58 AM, PDT)
Jack Ferver Presents Fassbinder’S “Bitter Tears…”
(From Filmmaker Magazine. 11 August 2011, 9:04 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Fassbinder at his finest! Cinema at its finest!
See more (22 total) »
Cast
(in credits order) (verified as complete)
Directed by | |||
| Rainer Werner Fassbinder | |||
Writing credits(in alphabetical order) | ||
| Rainer Werner Fassbinder | play | |
| Rainer Werner Fassbinder | screenplay | |
Produced by | |||
| Rainer Werner Fassbinder | .... | producer | |
| Michael Fengler | .... | producer | |
Cinematography by | |||
| Michael Ballhaus | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Thea Eymèsz | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Kurt Raab | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Maja Lemcke | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Peter Müller | .... | makeup artist | |
| Margarethe Ullmann | .... | hair stylist | |
Production Management | |||
| Margot Hirschmüller | .... | production manager | |
| Karl Scheydt | .... | unit manager | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Harry Baer | .... | assistant director (as Harry Bär) | |
| Kurt Raab | .... | assistant director | |
Sound Department | |||
| Gunther Kortwich | .... | sound (as Gustav Kortwich) | |
| Harry Rausch | .... | assistant sound | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Peter Gauhe | .... | still photographer (as Peter Gaue) | |
| Ekkehard Heinrich | .... | lighting technician | |
| Klaus Jahnel | .... | assistant camera | |
Other crew | |||
| An Dorthe Braker | .... | script supervisor (as Andorthe Braker) | |
| El Hedi ben Salem | .... | production help (as Salem El Hedi) | |
| Andreas Schimek | .... | production help | |
Production CompaniesDistributors
- Filmverlag der Autoren (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- New Yorker Films (1973) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Homescreen (1994) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Homescreen (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Palace Video (1982) (UK) (VHS)
- e-m-s the DVD-Company (2002) (Germany) (DVD) (special edition)
Additional Details
Also Known As:
"Die bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant" - West Germany (original title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
124 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Film was shot in ten days.See more »
Quotes:
Petra von Kant:Talented? She's not talented, she just knows how to sell herself.See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in "The Story of Film: An Odyssey: Episode #1.10" (2011)See more »
Soundtrack:
The Great PretenderSee more »
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.See more (22 total) »
Message Boards
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Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb West Germany section |
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This film is an elegantly constructed classical tragedy that explores the erotics of cruelty and the manipulation of sexual power. Deeply perverse, its portrayal of the complexity of sexual desire is an inversion of all Hollywood romantic tropes, which are thus exposed as comparatively frivolous and dishonest. It is a lesbian love story set in the fashion industry. Though some may find it slow paced, the rest of us will appreciate the meticulously choreography, the stunning cinematography, and the precision with which the actresses mimic the mimicking of womanhood.
While "The Bitter Tears" is heart-wrenching, devastating tragedy, a greater intellectual high is hard to find in movies or elsewhere. Among the very best films of Fassbinder's career, this movie demonstrates (yet again) that Fassbinder is one of the truly great artists of our time.