Class Relations (1984)

After making the domestic servant pregnant, a woman who doubles his age, a young man of only seventeen years from the German bourgeoisie is sent by his family to the United States in order to avoid a huge scandal.

Directors:

Danièle Huillet, Jean-Marie Straub

Writer:

Franz Kafka (novel)

Stars:

Christian Heinisch, Nazzareno Bianconi, Mario Adorf

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian Heinisch	...	Karl Roßmann
Nazzareno Bianconi	...	Giacomo
Mario Adorf	...	Der Onkel
Laura Betti	...	Brunelda
Harun Farocki	...	Delamarche
Manfred Blank	...	Robinson
Reinald Schnell	...	Der Heizer
Anna Schnell	...	Line
Klaus Traube	...	Der kapitän
Hermann Hartmann	...	Der Oberkassier
Gérard Semaan	...	Schubal
Jean-François Quinque	...	Der Stewart
Willi Vöbel	...	Pollunder (as Villi Vöbel)
Tilman Heinisch	...	Green
Anne Bold	...	Klara

Storyline

After making the domestic servant pregnant, a woman who doubles his age, a young man of only seventeen years from the German bourgeoisie is sent by his family to the United States in order to avoid a huge scandal.

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Plot Keywords:

alienation | f rated | new german cinema | class struggle | brechtian | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Amerika oder der Verschollene (1969)

User Reviews

Klassenverhaltnisse

Pretty good. Was surprised to find out about this one. Very rationalistic film making. Kind of Brechtian. I am really fond of the way the actors just recite their lines as opposed to act them, i also really liked the way it was shot, its static quality was very comforting for me even though this film is anything but comforting. It has, like everything i have read so far from kafka, this nightmare-ish feel to it. Everything always spirals down, everyone is alienating and confusing, every action has a undoable consequence. This time however, it is all in the context of a german immigrant in the united states who, deprived of his nationality becomes a sort of sub proletariat. But being him from a bourgeoise bringin he refuses to accept that fate which only makes thing worse for him. To me the point seems to be the impossibility of a decent living under the capitalist system or at least the easiness of the marginalization by it. The film was really good, i am really glad i got to see it. It is a really tough watch though. The scene where he is let go of his job in the hotel was one of the most frightening scenes i have ever watched in my whole life.

Details

Country:

West Germany France

Language:

German English

Release Date:

3 October 1984 (France)

Also Known As:

Relaciones de clase

Company Credits

Production Co:

Janus Film und Fernsehen, Hessischer Rundfunk (HR), NEF Diffusion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1