The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant

Name: The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: October 12, 1973
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Eva Mattes, Gisela Fackeldey, Hanna Schygulla, Irm Hermann, Katrin Schaake

1973

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Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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Movie Details & Credits

Filmverlag der Autoren | Release Date: October 12, 1973 | Not Rated

Starring: Eva Mattes, Gisela Fackeldey, Hanna Schygulla, Irm Hermann, Katrin Schaake, Margit Carstensen

Summary: A successful fashion designer abandons a sado-masochistic relationship with her female assistant in favor of a love affair with a beautiful young woman.

Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 124 min

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Critic Reviews

Ed Gonzalez

Bitter Tears offers a sensory feast that’s expanded on by the elaborate dialogue, which is poetic even as translated into English, and by the astonishingly sensual and fluid movements of the actors and the camera. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

It functions reasonably well as a straightforward, agonized melodrama, but it’s first and foremost a master class—co-taught by famed cinematographer Michael Ballhaus (Goodfellas, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Quiz Show), who got his start with Fassbinder—in the dynamic visual use of a constricted space, and proof that a tiny budget is no excuse. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Coldly described, the set and costume design and the hothouse atmosphere represent so much high-camp gloss; but once again this careful stylisation enables Fassbinder to balance between parody of an emotional stance and intense commitment to it. He films in long, elegant takes, completely at the service of his all-female cast, who are uniformly sensational. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The intentionally artificial campiness of the story eventually becomes touching, as it's played out against the sound of The Platters singing Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and The Great Pretender. Read full review

Lucy Sante

Every detail of staging, movement, and utterance is studied, affected to the highest degree, while the lust, anger, malice, and grief are wildly, shockingly real. Read full review

The Independent Ryan Gilbey

A berserk, angry, funny and exhausting analysis of sado-masochistic power games masquerading as loving relationships. Read full review

Nora Sayre

Clearly, the director was awash in his fantasies about lesbianism. Read full review

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