Faustrecht der Freiheit (Fox and His Friends) (Fist-Fight of Freedom)

Faustrecht der Freiheit (Fox and His Friends) (Fist-Fight of Freedom) (1975)

  • 87% of critics liked it
    (15 reviews)

  • 87% of users liked it
    (2,213 ratings)

Faustrecht der Freiheit (Fox and His Friends) was one of the many films in the short, but prolific, career of German auteur Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Fassbinder plays Franz Biberkopf, a financially poor gay man who performs in a traveling circus as Fox the Talking Head. One day, he lucks into… More

Unrated, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Written By
Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Christian Hohoff
Genres
Art House & International, Drama
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1975 Wide
On DVD
Jul 2, 2002
New Yorker Films

Critic Reviews

  • Richard Eder, New York Times

    It excludes all life that is not within the very narrow intentions of its author. Its pores have been painted over.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    Here is a movie about characters who define themselves by their sexuality, but the movie doesn't. It takes the sexuality as a given, and defines them by their values and morals.

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    This 1975 melodrama by Rainer Werner Fassbinder is one of his better middle-period films.

  • , TV Guide's Movie Guide

    Fassbinder gives an excellent performance as the abused Fox, and the direction is of his usual high standard.

  • Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

    One of Fassbinder's own personal favorites, the powerful Fox and His Friends may also be the greatest gay film ever made.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Eric B


    "Fox and His Friends" is a depressing tale, but it's easier to watch than many other Fassbinder films. A naive slacker ("Fox," portrayed by Fassbinder himself) wins the lottery. Tellingly, Fassbinder the director lets this joyous moment occur offscreen, and… More

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