Enfant Terrible

The 2020 movie, Enfant Terrible, is a biographical drama examining the tumultuous life and career of the iconic German filmmaker, Rainer Werner Fassbinder. With Oliver Masucci playing the eponymous lead, the film proposes a deep insight into Fassbinder's storied career, while also exploring his personal life and the controversies that came with it.

The film, a German production with Oskar Roehler at the helm, is a daring portrait of an artist who left an indelible mark on world cinema. With Masucci, Hary Prinz, and Katja Riemann giving standout performances, the film captivates viewers with its audacity to portray an unfiltered glimpse into the life of the controversial director.

Enfant Terrible takes a bold approach to biographical storytelling, fusing biographical realism with an intriguing touch of narrative magic, marrying Fassbinder's life with his signature filmmaking style. It celebrates the director's raw, unfiltered creativity and penchant for challenging convention, while also showing the unflinching reality of his tormented personal life.

The story traverses Fassbinder's life from his theatrical beginnings in Munich to the peak of his cinematic glory days in the 1970s and 1980s to his untimely death at the age of 37. Oliver Masucci delivers a powerful on-screen presence as he illuminates Fassbinder's frenetic creative energy alongside his chaotic personal life.

Fassbinder was known as much for his prodigious output (he directed over 40 films, TV series, and stage plays in a 15-year career) as he was for his turbulent relationships and controversial takes on sexuality, politics, and societal norms. Masucci adeptly depicts the director's whirlwind creativity alongside his fraught relationships.

Hary Prinz shines in his portrayal of Kurt Raab, a frequent collaborator of Fassbinder's, who experienced firsthand the erratic and demanding behavior of the director. Katja Riemann, on the other hand, portrays the acclaimed actress Brigitte Mira, deftly encapsulating the spirit of the sensitive artiste while navigating the vortex of Fassbinder's life.

The title 'Enfant Terrible' suits perfectly the explosive personality of Fassbinder, as the movie makes no attempt to gloss over the director’s less admirable traits. His rampant drug use, manipulation and depersonalization of the people around him, and the notoriously abusive nature of his personal relationships are all explored openly in the film, painting an honest, raw, and unapologetically flawed picture of Fassbinder.

Played out against an evocative period backdrop, the film captures the zeitgeist of European cinema during the 1970s and 1980s. The production design smartly recreates Fassbinder’s creative epochs, from the avant-garde theatre world to stylized classic cinema settings. There is also a poignant reflection of Fassbinder’s films playing out inside the narrative, showing the blurred lines between his life and his art.

Roehler, with an avant-garde style akin to Fassbinder’s cinematic touch, uses visuals and staging within the film to reflect Fassbinder's distinctive aesthetics. Intentionally exaggerated performances and over-the-top sequences add an additional layer of filmic influence and homage, creating a notoriously vibrant and larger-than-life portrait of the filmmaker.

In essence, Enfant Terrible is anything but a conventional biopic, accurately reflecting Fassbinder’s tumultuous life, both professionally and personally. This daring and at times flamboyant storytelling approach might not be conventional or palatable to all; however, it aptly mirrors the kinetic energy and chaotic brilliance that Fassbinder himself brought to his films.

With high-level performances by an accomplished cast and a unique approach to the biographical genre, Enfant Terrible serves as both an engaging exploration into the life of one of the film industry's most vibrant and controversial characters and a cinematic tribute to Fassbinder’s enduring impact on global cinema.

Despite his personal shortcomings and the controversies that surrounded him, Fassbinder is well remembered for his bold and unique cinematic voice. Enfant Terrible successfully captures this dichotomy, serving as a testament to the unparalleled legacy of the director. Whether you are already familiar with his work or not, Enfant Terrible offers a thought-provoking insight into the life and times of this unmatched artist.