Querelle (1982)

French sailor Querelle arrives in Brest and starts frequenting a strange whorehouse. He discovers that his brother Robert is the lover of the lady owner, Lysiane. Here, you can play dice ... See full summary »

Director:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Writers:

Jean Genet (novel), Rainer Werner Fassbinder (screenplay),

Stars:

Brad Davis, Franco Nero, Jeanne Moreau

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brad Davis	...	Querelle
Franco Nero	...	Lieutenant Seblon
Jeanne Moreau	...	Lysiane
Laurent Malet	...	Roger Bataille
Hanno Pöschl	...	Robert / Gil
Günther Kaufmann	...	Nono
Burkhard Driest	...	Mario
Roger Fritz	...	Marcellin
Dieter Schidor	...	Vic Rivette
Natja Brunckhorst	...	Paulette
Robert van Ackeren	...	Betrunkener Legionär
Werner Asam	...	Arbeiter
Isolde Barth	...	Mädchen
Axel Bauer	...	Arbeiter
Neil Bell	...	Theo

Storyline

French sailor Querelle arrives in Brest and starts frequenting a strange whorehouse. He discovers that his brother Robert is the lover of the lady owner, Lysiane. Here, you can play dice with Nono, Lysiane's husband : if you win, you are allowed to make love with Lysiane, if you lose, you have to make love with Nono... Querelle loses on purpose...

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Plot Keywords:

sailor | brest | betrayal | actor playing multiple roles | gay sex | 

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Taglines:

It will take you into a surreal world of passion and sexuality, further than most would dare to go. [Video Australia]

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

West Germany France

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 September 1982 (France)

Also Known As:

Matrosen och stjärnan

Filming Locations:

CCC-Atelier, Spandau, Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

DEM 4,400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Planet Film, Albatros Filmproduktion, Gaumont

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (Dolby stereo)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Selected for the 1982 Venice Film Festival. That year, the Golden Lion for best film went to 'Wim Wender''s The State of Things much to the disgust of Marcel Carné. He withdrew from President of the Jury after releasing the following statement, "I would love to make a personal statement. While being President of the Jury, I would love to express my disappointment in not having been able to convince my colleagues to place R.W. Fassbinder's "Querelle" among the winners. As a matter of fact, I've found myself alone in defending the Movie. Nevertheless, I keep on thinking that, although controversial, R.W. Fassbinder final movie, want it or not, love it or hate it, will one day find its place in the history of cinema." The statement appears at the beginning of Querelle videotapes and DVDs in Italy.

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Quotes

Querelle: I'm no fairy!

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Connections

Referenced in Pirated Copy (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Each Man Kills The Things He Loves"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Oscar Wilde
Music by Peer Raben
Performed by Jeanne Moreau

User Reviews

Dreamlike

When reading Genet, the thought that his books are no good for screen adaptation will frequently occur. Fassbinder's "Querelle" might be able to prove otherwise. Still, the movie seems more like a dream to me, like passing images illustrating a story rather than telling it. Great cast!