What an intriguing film. The content seems so flat and awkward at times. The pacing of the film, the use of silence, and the small talk all play into the quality of the film. I personally enjoyed how simple it seemed. But as discussed, we know that this isn't a surface value deal, it encompasses ideas that seem oceans deep.
Everyone in this film stares at Emmi and Ali, but in a way that, as Fassbinder says, is lie staring at a blank television set. Fassbinder also finds interesting the engagement in the act of looking. What does it mean to look? Why do people stare? These make me think, especially as a creative individual because I think at least 80% of what I do is look and stare. To me it is observation. It is your right to observe but also your responsibility to do so when you are a human. I don't suspect this is exactly what Fassbinder is communicating but nonetheless is something to think about.
I found it very interesting that the characters are defined by how people perceive them in the film. Ali (El Hedi ben Salem) seems so flat, so straight forward, like a two-dimensional character. This really has to do with the fact that Ali is an immigrant who is defined by his ability in labor; he helps Emmi's (Brigitte Mira) neighbors move things in the cellar, her friends are openly invited to feel and admire upon his muscles, and his job entails working on cars. Even his name is simplified; it is more of a nickname. All of these elements contribute to how Ali's character is seen by those around him. This speaks to learning biases. I assume most people who stare in the film are not familiar with living in multicultural communities which influences how they view Ali by not only as an individual but also as a husband to Emmi.
I actually think your comment about looking as it relates to observation is right on the money. What's especially interesting is thinking about how we then process those observations. Do we observe people around us who are different than ourselves and become uncomfortable? Do we admire them for being themselves? There's definitely a lot to consider with those sorts of ideas.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about how Ali's nickname is also showing how he was a simplified character is so true! It's sad to think how he has to live with this kind of identity where even his name is altered for the benefit of everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your take on the starring in this film I also like how you point out that something that we do as humans on the daily is stare at others you are right it is "our right to observe". I juts though that point you made was really interesting and I also like how you tie your claim in with Fassbinder's use of staring in this film.
ReplyDeleteI think you're comment on Ali's value only being his ability to do labor is really observant. Fassbinder's critique of capitalism is subtle but it is definitely there.
ReplyDeleteI like the mention of observation and the perception of the two main characters. It seems like the staring in the film is probably connected to how Ali and Emmi are both shaped by people outside of their relationship. Even their relationship is changed and influenced heavily by everyone around them.
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued by your statement about Ali as a two-dimensional character. This is something that I thought a lot about during the film, and I came to the conclusion that I think he is actually a strong, well-rounded character. After all, the final plot point is that Ali's physical health fails due to stress, indicating his emotional depth. He has the most challenging moral conflict of anyone in the film.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a really brilliant aspect of the film!
DeleteThe working title of this film was "All Turks Are Named Ali" which speaks to the limitations of the ways that German culture was able to see migrant labor. This is played out throughout the film in such a way as to make the character seem, as you say, rather two dimensional. It is only with the doctor's diagnosis at the end of the film that we get any sense of the character's emotional depths as Tom points out. I find this narrative construction compelling for the way that it implicates the viewer.
ReplyDeleteI thought about the staring in this film a lot too after we spoke about it in class. But for some reason I didn't notice it the first time watching the film as a purposeful choice or a choice meant to evoke any thought, I simply wrote it off as awkward acting and directing and continued to watch the film. This was really the first movie that made me look at the artistic choices being made as always very purposeful and not using the movie being old and different from mainstream hollywood as a reason for why some things in a scene may be awkward and strange.
ReplyDelete(by billy)
Delete