‘Ali: Fear Eats the Soul,’ a Fassbinder classic worth a second look
Rainer Werner Fassbinder created a delicately beautiful film with Ali: Fear Eats the Soul. The 1974 gem follows the romance of an older woman (Brigitte Mira as Emmi) and younger man (El Hedi ben Salem as the title character).
The women living in Emmi’s apartment complex disapprove of the relationship. She’s German, and he’s an Arab worker, plus they’re of a different age group. The fact that they are genuinely in love is a secondary issue to these ever critical women. The relationship does not fit their worldview, and they make their discontent known.
Fassbinder, working off Douglas Sirk’s All That Heaven Allows, lets the movie unfold at a realistic, rhythmic pace. He never passes judgment on the relationship, instead letting it evolve as any relationship might. Emmi and Ali meet in a bar-restaurant during a rainstorm, much like any other romantic movie. Ali, taking a bet from friends, decides to ask Emmi to dance. The connection that is forged by these two forgotten souls is deep, and suddenly they are walking home together and setting plans for the next time they will meet. After some time, they realize their relationship is not based solely on friendly encounters. They have real feelings for each other and want to make a permanent life of their own.
There are so many rewarding themes circulating throughout the movie. Looking at Emmi’s progression, one feels like she’s afforded a second chance at her life. Her adult children rebuke her intentions and all but castigate her new lover, but she stays strong. Emmi loves Ali, and Ali loves Emmi. Few people are able to break this dichotomy.
For Ali, his story is fascinating to watch. He’s a kind-hearted man who works long hours and faces the prejudice of the local German neighborhood. He’s the silent type, but he’s far from perfect. When temptation takes his mind off his new wife, he considers giving in and giving up on Emmi.
Both of these central characters are played by talented actors who make the dialogue feel natural. The performances are beautiful to realize. There’s a real sense of joy between the two partners. Mira is given the flashier role, and her abilities are put on fine display. Salem, because he’s playing a quiet character, has fewer scenes to impress, but somehow with his calming dignity, the actor is able to make us feel for his predicament.
Fassbinder, who also wrote the script, crafted a fine story that deserves the attention of cinephiles. The Criterion Collection has done a nice job of presenting the landmark romance film on DVD with helpful supplementary material. Ali: Fear Eats the Soul is that rare time capsule: a film that can touchingly move audiences so many years after its original release. The themes are still palpable today, and the performances still resonate.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
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Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
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1974
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Written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder
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Starring Brigitte Mira and El Hedi ben Salem
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Running time: 93 minutes
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Not Rated
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Rating:
