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Despair (1978)

| Drama, History | 20 September 1978 (France)
Despair Poster
In early-1930s Berlin, an elegant Russian émigré and eccentric chocolatier convinces himself that he has seen his doppelgänger, and hatches a murderous plan to trade his existence for an entirely new one. Will he get over the deep despair?

Director:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Writers:

Tom Stoppard (screenplay), Vladimir Nabokov (novel)

Stars:

Dirk Bogarde, Andréa Ferréol, Klaus Löwitsch | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
3 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »

Photos

See all 82 photos »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dirk Bogarde ... Herman
Andréa Ferréol ... Lydia
Klaus Löwitsch ... Felix
Volker Spengler ... Ardalion
Armin Meier Armin Meier ... Silverman / Sergeant Brown / Foreman
Peter Kern Peter Kern ... Müller
Adrian Hoven ... Inspector Schelling
Alexander Allerson ... Mayer
Hark Bohm Hark Bohm ... Doctor
Roger Fritz Roger Fritz ... Inspector Braun
Gottfried John ... Perebrodov
Y Sa Lo Y Sa Lo ... Elsie
Lilo Pempeit Lilo Pempeit ... Secretary Schmidt
Ingrid Caven ... Hotel Manager
Voli Geiler Voli Geiler ... 1st Landlady
See full cast »
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Storyline

In early-1930s Berlin during the Weimar Republic and the Nazis' rise to power, the elegant Russian émigré and eccentric chocolatier, Hermann Hermann, leads a petite bourgeois life with his voluptuous and frivolous wife, Lydia. Troubled about his Jewish roots, Hermann convinces himself that he has seen his doppelgänger in the person of the unemployed vagabond, Felix, going as far as to hatch a murderous plan, intent on trading his very existence for an entirely new one. Now, Hermann's desire for transcendence is gnawing at him. Will he get over the full-blown mental breakdown, and the profound despair? Written by Nick Riganas

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

1930s | chocolate | nazi | madness | based on novel | See All (34) »

Taglines:

A "hysterical" comedy

Genres:

Drama | History

Certificate:

See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie has been restored with the restoration version released in 2011. See more »

Connections

Featured in The Cinema and its Double - Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 'Despair' Revisited (2011) See more »

User Reviews

Strange brew
4 June 2003 | by m67165 – See all my reviews

This movie is disturbing. The main character seems to be going a bit crazy. And the political climate of the country looks no better. We know that the war is coming, and will be terrifying. The people in this movie seem to have a strange hunch about all this terrible possibilities just around the corner. They probably feel there's no hope of stopping the process. They decide to get drunk. To enjoy the last days of a dying world. But the guy might not be going totally crazy after all. He has a plan.
5 of 28 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who wrote the scene where Herman confronts Sigmind Freud (or a Freud look-alike) in a German cafe? It wasn't in the novel. Did Stoppard or Fassbinder add this?
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Details

Country:

West Germany | France

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 September 1978 (France) See more »

Also Known As:

Despair See more »

Filming Locations:

Bavaria Studios, Bavariafilmplatz 7, Geiselgasteig, Grünwald, Bavaria, Germany See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

DEM6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,623, 16 February 2003

Gross USA:

$8,144

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,144
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bavaria Atelier, Bavaria Film, Filmverlag der Autoren See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See full technical specs »
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