Fontane - Effi Briest (1974)

Director:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Writers:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder (writer)
Theodor Fontane (novel)

Release Date:

16 June 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In the nineteenth century, seventeen year old Effi Briest is married to the older Baron von Instetten and moves into a house...

Plot Keywords:

Duel | Affair | Lapsed Catholic | Melodrama | Lawyer

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Hanna Schygulla	...	Effi Briest / von Instetten
Wolfgang Schenck	...	Baron Geert von Instetten
Ulli Lommel	...	Major Crampas
Lilo Pempeit	...	Louise Briest, Mutter
Herbert Steinmetz	...	Herr Briest, Vater
Ursula Strätz	...	Roswitha, Kindermädchen
Irm Hermann	...	Johanna, Haushälterin
Karlheinz Böhm	...	Geheimrat Wüllersdorf (as Karl-Heinz Böhm)
Karl Scheydt	...	Kruse
Barbara Lass	...	Polnische Köchin
Rudolf Lenz	...	Geheimrat Rummschüttel
Andrea Schober	...	Annie von Instetten, Tochter
Eva Mattes	...	Hulda
Theo Tecklenburg	...	Pastor Niemeyer
An Dorthe Braker	...	Frau Pasche (as Anndorthe Braker)

Also Known As:

Effi Briest (Australia)
Fontane - Effi Briest oder: Viele, die eine Ahnung haben von ihren Möglichkeiten und Bedürfnissen und dennoch das herrschende System in ihrem Kopf akzeptieren durch ihre Taten und es somit festigen und durchaus bestätigen (West Germany) (complete title)

Runtime:

Germany:140 min | USA:135 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Company:

Tango Film

Trivia:

The complete title of the film is one of the longest titles (if not the longest) in film history: "Fontane Effi Briest oder viele, die eine Ahnung haben von ihren Möglichkeiten und ihren Bedürfnissen und trotzdem das herrschende System in ihrem Kopf akzeptieren durch ihre Taten und es somit festigen und durchaus bestätigen"

Quotes:

Effi Briest: He was as noble as one who doesn't know true love can be.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tillsammans (2000)

Beautiful but distant

Exquisite black-and-white photography, gorgeous costumes, stunning landscapes, and actors photographed in mirrors and through laced-curtains are the highlights of this emotionally distant film. It is true, however, that the leading actress has her cathartic scene, but it comes late in the film. Too late to really make one care about the spoiled, rich young lady. But this is Fassbinder, and Fassbinder is always watchable, even at his most pretentious. One joy of this film is the presence of Irm Hermann, who can do more with one glare (she doesn't need dialogue as "The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant" proved for all time) then any actor I can think of. Schygulla and the other actors are mostly wooden. The beauty of the scene with the starkly handsome Lommel as the rich major and Schygulla picnicking at the beach makes one forgive the shortcomings of the film.