Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

1974 · directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Rating

87/100

Hit

yes

Emmi Kurowski, a cleaning lady, is lonely in her old age. Her husband died years ago, and her grown children offer little companionship. One night she goes to a bar frequented by Arab immigrants and strikes up a friendship with middle-aged mechanic Ali. Their relationship soon develops into something more, and Emmi's family and neighbors criticize their spontaneous marriage. Soon Emmi and Ali are forced to confront their own insecurities about their future.

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974), directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, rates 87/100 — a hit. See how its director, cast and crew rate across their careers.

Cast

• Brigitte Mira
• El Hedi ben Salem
• Irm Hermann
• Barbara Valentin
• Elma Karlowa
• Anita Bucher
• Gusti Kreissl
• Doris Mattes
• Margit Symo
• Katharina Herberg

Crew

• Jürgen Jürges — Director of Photography
• Thea Eymèsz — Editor
• Rainer Werner Fassbinder — Original Music Composer
• Rainer Werner Fassbinder — Screenplay

More from Rainer Werner Fassbinder

1. The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979) — 83/100 · hit
2. Lola (1981) — 80/100 · hit
3. Katzelmacher (1969) — 80/100 · hit
4. Why Does Herr R. Run Amok? (1970) — 80/100 · hit
5. The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972) — 80/100 · hit
6. Fox and His Friends (1975) — 79/100

How these numbers work: Methodology