Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Ulli Lommel | ... | Bruno | |
Hanna Schygulla | ... | Johanna | |
Katrin Schaake | ... | Dame im Zug | |
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Liz Söllner | ... | Zeitungsverkäuferin |
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Gisela Otto | ... | Prostituierte |
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Ursula Strätz | ... | Prostituierte |
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Monika Nüchtern | ... | Kellnerin beim Türken (as Monika Stadler) |
Hans Hirschmüller | ... | Peter | |
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Les Olvides | ... | Georges |
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Peer Raben | ... | Jürgen (also Waffenhändler (voice)) (as Wil Rabenbauer) |
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Howard Gaines | ... | Raoul |
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Peter Moland | ... | Leiter des Syndikatsverhörs |
Kurt Raab | ... | Aufsichtsperson im Kaufhaus | |
Peter Berling | ... | Schuster / Illegaler Waffenhändler | |
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Anastassios Karalas | ... | Türke |
Unusual gangster story, in which a small-time pimp Franz, who is torn between his mistress and Bruno the gangster sent after him by the syndicate that he has refused to join. Things are turned on their head when Franz and Bruno become friends, to the point that they even share Franz's girlfriend Joanna. But Joanna soon becomes bored of Bruno. Written by L.H. Wong <as9401k56@ntuvax.ntu.ac.sg>
Fassbinder's debut feature seems to be strongly influenced by early Godard films like Breathles or Band of Outsiders in both its gritty black and white style and references to the gangster/noir genres. But where Godard's characters have a playful sense of humor, trying to act their gangster fantasies wearing fedoras and poorly executing non-thought out crimes to the tune of a swinging soundtrack and beautiful woman, Love Is Colder than Death does all with a fridgid, robotic sense of cool. Every shot is like a black and white photo where the acting is like posing in front of mirror before the action (or one of the characters)gets executed. The film is pretty avante-garde in using mostly completely static shots and the characters pretty much act "too cool". They just stare at you as you're supposed to react, then when there's an action, you get surprised and realise it's still in the movie. Forget that the plot is simple, threadbare even, this is an atmosphere piece.