Faustrecht der Freiheit (Fox and His Friends) (Fist-Fight of Freedom) (1975)
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87% of critics liked it
(15 reviews) -
86% of users liked it
(2,274 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 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 winning half a million marks in a lottery. This attracts the attention of numerous swindlers, including Eugen (Peter Chatel), who becomes Fox's lover, gets Fox to spend the money on Eugen, and then dumps Fox mercilessly once the money is gone. Unable to come to terms with how he has been used, and miserable at being in the same place he was before he won the money, Fox commits suicide. The cast is rounded out by El Hedi ben Salem and Brigitte Mira, the stars of Fassbinder's celebrated Ali: Fear Eats the Soul. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Directed By
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Written By
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Christian Hohoff
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1975 Wide
- Studio
- New Yorker Films
Critic Reviews
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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.
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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.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This 1975 melodrama by Rainer Werner Fassbinder is one of his better middle-period films.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Fassbinder gives an excellent performance as the abused Fox, and the direction is of his usual high standard.
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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.
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Cast
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Rainer Werner Fassbinder
as Fox, Franz Biberkopf
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Peter Chatel
as Eugen
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Harry Baer
as Philipe
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Adrian Hoven
as Father
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Ulla Jacobsson
as Mother
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Karlheinz Böhm
as Max
- Liselotte Eder
- Irm Hermann
- Elma Karlowa
- Peter Kern
- Evelyn Künneke
- Rudolf Lenz
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Christiane Maybach
as Hedwig
- Karl Scheydt
- Ursula Straetz
- Barbara Valentin
- Hans Zander
- Kurt Raab
- Bruce Low
- Walter Sedlmayr
- Karl-Heinz Staudenmeyer
- Lilo Pempeit
- El Hedi ben Salem
- Adrian Horen
- Ulla Jacobsen
