Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (German: Angst essen Seele auf) is a 1974 West German drama film written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, starring Brigitte Mira and El Hedi ben Salem.
The film revolves around the romance that develops between Emmi, an elderly German woman and lonely widow, and Ali, a Moroccan migrant worker in postwar West Germany. They meet in a bar during a rainstorm. They fall in love, to their own surprise-and to the outright shock of their families, colleagues, and drinking buddies. 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 is powerful but very simple. The two characters are separated by race and age, but they have one valuable thing in common: They like one another, and care for one another, in a world that otherwise seems coldly indifferent.
The film won the International Federation of Film Critics award for best in-competition movie and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival. It is considered to be one of Fassbinder’s most powerful works and is hailed by many as a masterpiece.
Watch the movie before Thursday, March 30th, then join the Zoom meeting at 7:00PM and come prepared with your comments and questions. DGC Board Member and Vice President Dr. Christoph Weber will be our moderator, and other Board Members will participate in the discussion as well.
The movie is available here (German with English subtitles).
Registration is required. After registering you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link. For further questions please email us: [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, March 30th @ 7:00 PM via Zoom!