The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant

Rainer Werner Fassbinder wrote the original script for The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant in 12 hours on a flight from Germany to America. He later shot the film in ten days. And it’s an absolute masterpiece. I’m just saying, maybe cocaine gets a bad rap.

Originally a play, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant takes place in five acts and one location. Fashion designer Petra lives with her silent but devoted assistant, Marlene. Recently divorced, Petra is bitter and cynical about love until her friend Sidonie introduces her to the young Karin. Petra quickly becomes obsessed with Karin and Karin is certainly willing to be seduced. However, Karin eventually leaves Petra and Petra breaks down, even more lonely and bitter than before.

This is my first Rainer Werner Fassbinder film. I went in knowing more about him as a person than a filmmaker. Because of his chaotic personal life, drug use and the fact that he’s considered a classic enfant terrible of German cinema, I was expecting a much messier movie. So, I was deeply mistaken. Petra von Kant is immaculate. You can see the thought that went into every word and every frame of this film. It’s a very smart adaption of a play in that it adds little but validates its existence as a film. It does this by having gloriously framed shots that leap out of the screen and sear into your brain.

But the visuals are not window dressing for a shallow film. Petra von Kant has things to say. Dialogue in the film has consistent insight or character development by turn. This is a film that’s almost entirely just people talking but it is gripping. As a result, the finished product is a great melodrama that explores power dynamics in relationships.

It of course helps that the cast does great with the material, especially lead actress Margit Carstensen. She’s obscenely watchable in this. Carstensen flows with ease through Petra’s major emotional changes and annihilates any scene that requires her to monologue. This is an absolute acting showcase.

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant is overall fantastic. A great script, great cast and excellent direction makes this an easy transition from stage to screen. Petra von Kant is modern, intelligent and above all, deeply, deeply watchable.

Overall rating: 9.2/10

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