In a Year with 13 Moons (1978)
"In einem Jahr mit 13 Monden" (original title)

This drama follows the last few days in the life of Elvira (formerly Erwin) Weisshaupt. Years before, Erwin told a co-worker, Anton, that he loved him. "Too bad, you aren't a woman," he ... See full summary »

Director:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Writer:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Stars:

Volker Spengler, Ingrid Caven, Gottfried John

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Volker Spengler	...	Erwin / Elvira Weishaupt
Ingrid Caven	...	Die rote Zora
Gottfried John	...	Anton Saitz
Elisabeth Trissenaar	...	Irene Weishaupt
Eva Mattes	...	Marie-Ann Weishaupt
Günther Kaufmann	...	J. Smolik, Chauffeur
Lilo Pempeit	...	Schwester Gudrun (as Lieselotte Pempeit)
Isolde Barth	...	Sybille
Karl Scheydt	...	Christoph Hacker
Walter Bockmayer	...	Seelenfrieda
Peter Kollek	...	Saeufer
Bob Dorsay	...	Selbstmörder
Gerhard Zwerenz	...	Burghard Hauser, Schriftsteller

Storyline

This drama follows the last few days in the life of Elvira (formerly Erwin) Weisshaupt. Years before, Erwin told a co-worker, Anton, that he loved him. "Too bad, you aren't a woman," he replied. Erwin took Anton at his word. Trying to salvage something from the wreckage love has made of his life, he now hopes that Anton will not reject him again.

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Plot Keywords:

abandoned child | prostitute | nun | father daughter reunion | gender reassignment | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

11 June 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

In a Year with 13 Moons

Filming Locations:

Eschersheimer Landstraße, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

DEM 700,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmverlag der Autoren, Pro-ject Filmproduktion, Tango Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The tape-recorded narration heard throughout the film (particularly during the final scene) was not scripted. Volker Spengler (playing Elvira Weishaupt) and Rainer Werner Fassbinder recorded the narration together, with Fassbinder asking questions and Spengler responding in character. In the final cut of the film, Fassbinder's voice is edited out.

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Connections

References Amarcord (1973)

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Soundtracks

"Schöner fremder Mann"
Performed by Connie Francis

User Reviews

Brutal, honest, excellent:

The movie should have been called "Despair" had Fassbinder himself not made the film with that title just before "In einem Jahr mit 13 Monden" (1978) which was very personal for the writer/director who had to come to terms with his lover's suicide. This drama follows the last few days in the life of Elvira - Erwin Weisshaupt. Several years back, Ervin underwent the sex change operation in hopes to win love of the man he loved. It did not help him to make Anton love him and it did not make him happier. It may sound beautiful, "I'll do anything for love, I'll be anything you want me to be" but by trying to be someone else, a person simply loses his/her own identity, becomes lonely and desperate and has no way out.

The movie is the most touching, moving, powerful and devastating Fassbinder ever made - it is impossibly difficult to watch at times but it does not make it a bad movie. The acting is fantastic by everyone; the directing is tight and Fassbinder is always in control taking movie from its melodramatic roots to the heights of pure tragedy, never been over-sentimental and even providing some humor. The choice of music with the references to "Death in Venice" (eternal and never fulfilled longing) and to Fellini's "Amarcord" (looking back at one's life trying to find the roots in the childhood, to understand how and why the things happened the way they did) makes the film even more compelling.

Warning: there is a scene in the slaughterhouse which is almost unbearable to watch. It is the very important scene but be prepared for it. It does not spare any details of the job done and in its emotional impact is as horrifying as "The Blood of the Beasts" (1949), the short documentary by Georges Franju.