Hans is a street fruit peddler and born loser. His choice of career upsets his bourgeois family, causing him to turn to drinking and violence. After recovering from a debilitating heart attack, his business finally begins to take off. However, the more he becomes a credit to his family, the more depressed he becomes.
Acting
Hirschmüller's crumpled dignity is unbearably perfect.
Direction
Fassbinder's static cruelty—he frames suffering like furniture.
Writing
Every line cuts; family dinners are war zones.
Director
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Hans Hirschmüller
Hans Epp
Irm Hermann
Irmgard Epp
Hanna Schygulla
Anna Epp, Hans's sister
Karl Scheydt
Anzell
Klaus Löwitsch
Harry
Gusti Kreissl
Mother Epp
Ingrid Caven
Hans's great love
Peter Chatel
Dr. Harlach
Elga Sorbas
Marile
Kurt Raab
Kurt, Hans's brother-in-law
Hark Bohm
Polizei-Vorgesetzter
Walter Sedlmayr
Karren-Verkäufer
Lilo Pempeit
Kundin
El Hedi ben Salem
Araber
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
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