RainerWernerFassbinderwasprobablyGermany’smostsignificantpostwardirectorHisswiftanddramaticdemiseattheearlyageof37in1982leftbehindavacuuminEuropeanfilmmakingthathasyettobefilled,aswellasabodyofunique,multilayeredandmultifariousworkofastonishingconsistencyandrigourFrom1969onwards,DanishdirectorandfilmhistorianChristianBraadThomsenmaintainedacloseyetrespectfullydistancedfriendshipwithFassbinderFassbinder–LiebenohnezufordernisbasedonhispersonalmemoriesaswellasaseriesofconversationsandinterviewsheheldwithFassbinderandhismotherLilointhe1970sThefilmalsocontainscurrentinterviewswithIrmHermannandHarryBaer,bothofwhomwereclosetoFassbinderBeginningwithFassbinder’sextraordinarychildhoodintraumatisedpostwarGermany,thefilm,whichisdividedintosevenchapters,providesanilluminating,intimateandmovingtributethatbearswitnesstotheenduringrelevanceofboththemanandhisworkTodayinparticularhisoeuvrecontinuestoprovokeustoengagewithcontroversyandtension–beitaesthetical,creativeorcriticalberlianle201
