15 hours of Fassbinder
a trip to the theater (museum) : Berlin Alexanderplatz (episode 1)(directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder)
Fassbinder fans who live in New York City have a lot to be excited about these days. MOMA's PS1 has an amazing exibit devoted to Fassbinder's 13 episode + epilogue Berlin Alexanderplatz. The exhibit consists of one theater space that plays 6 continuous hours of the series everyday, 14 mini-rooms that loop each individual episode and one large room where each episode plays simultaneously without subtitles next to each other. Not to mention the large amount of stills, storyboards and notes that drape the walls surrounding the viewing areas.
On my first visit to the exhibit, I wandered around in awe for quite awhile before episode 1 restarted in it's room. Thus far Berlin Alexanderplatz seems to be classic Fassbinder in many ways - the stylization, the music and the political mixed with the melodramatic. There does however, appear to be something different happening with the story of Franz Biberkof. I felt a supernatural or dreamlike element in what appears to be a very realistic story. This may be because of the strange lighting that defines the story: (click on the photo to read an explanation)
Overall episode 1 did a good job of giving back story without flashbacks or narration and also of setting up the different elements of character and place. It was fun to see "Fassbinder regulars" popping up all over place and i was especialluy pleased to see Brigitte Mira (Mother Kusters and Ali: Fear Eats the Soul) and Hanna Schygulla (The Marriage of Maria Braun, Effi Briest and Lili Marleen) enter the story. The main character, Franz Biberkof, is a man seeking redemption but also a man who can't control his impulses. Thus far things are looking up for our "hero" but of course this is Fassbinder and episode 1 is appropriately titled "The Punishment Begins" - I for one can't wait for his world to start twisting.
Most of all though, I am excited that the exhibit allows repeat viewings - when you pay 1 admission you get a pass that lets you in as many times as you like. I'm hoping to figure out the timing on the theater space so i can watch episode 2 in all its glory.
On my first visit to the exhibit, I wandered around in awe for quite awhile before episode 1 restarted in it's room. Thus far Berlin Alexanderplatz seems to be classic Fassbinder in many ways - the stylization, the music and the political mixed with the melodramatic. There does however, appear to be something different happening with the story of Franz Biberkof. I felt a supernatural or dreamlike element in what appears to be a very realistic story. This may be because of the strange lighting that defines the story: (click on the photo to read an explanation)
Overall episode 1 did a good job of giving back story without flashbacks or narration and also of setting up the different elements of character and place. It was fun to see "Fassbinder regulars" popping up all over place and i was especialluy pleased to see Brigitte Mira (Mother Kusters and Ali: Fear Eats the Soul) and Hanna Schygulla (The Marriage of Maria Braun, Effi Briest and Lili Marleen) enter the story. The main character, Franz Biberkof, is a man seeking redemption but also a man who can't control his impulses. Thus far things are looking up for our "hero" but of course this is Fassbinder and episode 1 is appropriately titled "The Punishment Begins" - I for one can't wait for his world to start twisting.Most of all though, I am excited that the exhibit allows repeat viewings - when you pay 1 admission you get a pass that lets you in as many times as you like. I'm hoping to figure out the timing on the theater space so i can watch episode 2 in all its glory.
Labels:
field trip
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