The Marriage of Maria Braun (1978)

A World War II widow seeks to adjust to life in postwar Germany.

Director:

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Writers:

Pea Fröhlich (screenplay), Peter Märthesheimer (screenplay)

Stars:

Hanna Schygulla, Klaus Löwitsch, Ivan Desny

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 13 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hanna Schygulla	...	Maria Braun
Klaus Löwitsch	...	Hermann Braun
Ivan Desny	...	Karl Oswald
Gisela Uhlen	...	Mother
Elisabeth Trissenaar	...	Betti Klenze
Gottfried John	...	Willi Klenze
Hark Bohm	...	Senkenberg
George Eagles	...	Bill (as George Byrd)
Claus Holm	...	Doctor
Günter Lamprecht	...	Hans Wetzel (as Günther Lamprecht)
Anton Schiersner	...	Grandpa Berger
Lilo Pempeit	...	Frau Ehmke
Sonja Neudorfer	...	Red Cross nurse
Volker Spengler	...	Train conductor
Isolde Barth	...	Vevi

Storyline

This movie follows the life of a young German woman, married to a soldier in the waning days of WWII. Fassbinder has tried to show the gritty life after the end of WWII and the turmoil of the people trapped in its wake.

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Plot Keywords:

female protagonist | post world war two germany | new german cinema | bar hostess | west germany | 

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Taglines:

The Marriage Of Maria Braun. . . the marriage lasted no longer than half a day and a full night.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German English French

Release Date:

23 March 1979 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

The Marriage of Maria Braun

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

DEM 1,975,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albatros Filmproduktion,Fengler Films,Filmverlag der Autoren

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the scene where the playing of the Beethoven symphony is interrupted by the Suchmeldungen (a program providing details of missing persons), announcer utters as such: 'For each of the names listed here, there is some news. 5821: Adler, first name unknown...'. The Adler, i.e., eagle, is the symbol of the German state.

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Quotes

Karl Oswald: Do you want to leave me?
Maria Braun: That would be stupid. It would only make us unhappier. At least if you know you're unhappy, there's still hope.

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Crazy Credits

After the introductory credits there is a line: 'fuer Peter Zadek'.

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Connections

Referenced in Il était une fois...: Le mariage de Maria Braun (2012)

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Soundtracks

Piano Concerto No. 23 (Adagio)
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Played when Maria Braun, Karl Oswald and Sendenberg have dinner together.

User Reviews

Allegory of Postwar Germany

Alright already, get over it, was Handke's comment to the 1968 meeting of the Gruppe 48 -- those writers who wanted to "heal" from the war. Well Fassbinder doesn't want to heal, he wants to indict. And this movie, probably his most accessible, takes a woman as the symbol for the nation-- a theme common to prehistoric oral literature, particularly among the Irish, made famous by Grimmelshausen's Mother Courage and updated by Brecht's play. But in this version, instead of the tragic Mother trying to save her children and mourning them, Maria Braun sells out for comfort from collaboration with the Nazi's through the economic wonder "Wirtschaftswunder" of the cold war. This was Fassbinder's big hit, because he toned down his politics both sexual and marxist, to focus on the loss of soul that Germany experienced. It was also Hanna Schygulla's Oscar worthy performance, probably one of her best of many great ones. Like little Oskar from the Tin Drum, Maria Braun was stunted by the experience, only on the inside.