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IMDbPro

The Merchant of Four Seasons

Original title: Händler der vier Jahreszeiten
  • 1972
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
5.1K
YOUR RATING
Hans Hirschmüller in The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
Drama

Hans Epp is a self-destructive man who lives a dissatisfied life. He tries to find meaning as a fruit vendor, but a heart attack impedes his ability to work, which turns his dissatisfaction ... Read allHans Epp is a self-destructive man who lives a dissatisfied life. He tries to find meaning as a fruit vendor, but a heart attack impedes his ability to work, which turns his dissatisfaction into despair.Hans Epp is a self-destructive man who lives a dissatisfied life. He tries to find meaning as a fruit vendor, but a heart attack impedes his ability to work, which turns his dissatisfaction into despair.

  • Director
    • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
  • Writer
    • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
  • Stars
    • Hans Hirschmüller
    • Irm Hermann
    • Hanna Schygulla
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    5.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
    • Writer
      • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
    • Stars
      • Hans Hirschmüller
      • Irm Hermann
      • Hanna Schygulla
    • 24User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:03
    Watch Trailer

    Photos85

    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    Ingrid Caven in The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    Irm Hermann and Hans Hirschmüller in The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)
    Hans Hirschmüller in The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hans Hirschmüller
    Hans Hirschmüller
    • Hans Epp
    Irm Hermann
    Irm Hermann
    • Irmgard Epp
    Hanna Schygulla
    Hanna Schygulla
    • Anna Epp
    Klaus Löwitsch
    Klaus Löwitsch
    • Harry Radek
    Karl Scheydt
    Karl Scheydt
    • Anzell
    Andrea Schober
    Andrea Schober
    • Renate Epp
    Gusti Kreissl
    • Mother Epp
    Ingrid Caven
    Ingrid Caven
    • Hans's great love
    Kurt Raab
    Kurt Raab
    • Kurt
    Heide Simon
    • Heide
    Peter Chatel
    Peter Chatel
    • Dr. Harlach
    Elga Sorbas
    Elga Sorbas
    • Marile
    Lilo Pempeit
    • Customer
    Walter Sedlmayr
    Walter Sedlmayr
    • Fruit cart salesman
    • (as Walther Sedlmayer)
    El Hedi ben Salem
    El Hedi ben Salem
    • The Arab
    • (as Salem El Heïdi)
    Marian Seidowsky
    Marian Seidowsky
    Daniel Schmid
    Daniel Schmid
    • 1st Candidate
    Michael Fengler
    • Playboy
    • Director
      • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
    • Writer
      • Rainer Werner Fassbinder
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Andrea Schober's debut.
    • Quotes

      [repeated line]

      Hans Epp: Fresh pears!

    • Connections
      Edited into Ich will nicht nur, daß ihr mich liebt - Der Filmemacher Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      Buona Notte
      (uncredited)

      Written by Rocco Granata & Jules Verard

      Performed by Rocco Granata

    User reviews24

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Fassbinder evolving
    In Fassbinder's earlier films, his ideas sometimes surpased his ability to execute them. He was always a great writer, but it took him some time to get his style of camera work and storytelling down pat.

    The Merchant of Four Seasons is one of Fassbinder's first movie to make great use of color, from the bright green pears in the merchant's cart to the bright red roses at the funeral (a funeral in a Fassbinder movie? who'd have thought).

    His camera work was getting there too, but it was still fairly minimalist. The occasional zooms seem a bit uncomfortable at times and unnatural, but then again, Fassbinder was still coming out of his purely avant garde phase. This might be because Michael Ballhaus isn't behind the camera, but instead the slightly inferior Dietrich Lohmann.

    Still, this is Fassbinder, and you get your fix here. Broken dreams shown so vividly and unflinchingly as to alienate audience and drive them into a depressed stupor. Just what the doctor ordered. An early classic that shows remarkable progression when compared to his first films released only 2 years prior.
    helpful•15
    9
    • Itchload
    • Dec 7, 2002

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 10, 1972 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • West Germany
    • Languages
      • German
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Händler der vier Jahreszeiten
    • Filming locations
      • Munich, Bavaria, Germany
    • Production company
      • Tango Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • DEM 325,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,144
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,623
      • Feb 16, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,144
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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