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 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

Rating, Runtime: 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
Studio: 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.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's brilliant melodramas from the 1970s.
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
The film's stark relentlessness has power to move an audience.
Gabriel Shanks, Mixed Reviews
Entertaining but oddly parsed coming of age tale. For Fassbinder enthusiasts only.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Make no mistake, this is the real Queer as Folk, but for all of Fassbinder's gripes with an elite gay culture's many sexual hang-ups, Fox and His Friends is first and foremost a riveting evocation of Social Darwinism in action.
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
An ace snapshot from 27 years ago that still feels contemporary and pressing.
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com
Not for a moment does Fassbinder indulge our fantasies that Fox's tryst might be working toward a happy ending.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Fox's journey downward is more of a straight shot than a spiral.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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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
"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 quickly jumps ahead to the unsettling aftermath. After Fox's new wealth becomes known, he quickly makes friends with Eugen Thiess, the dashing son of a successful industrialist. As virtually every male in the film is homosexual, Fox and Eugen soon become lovers. But homosexuality is just the casual backdrop here -- the real issue is that the Thiess family riches are not what they appear to be, and Eugen soon sets on a course to ruthlessly swindle Fox out of his fortune. This is not a "twist," because Eugen's treacherousness is obvious from the start. Fox tries to make his way in Eugen's aristocratic world, but he is coarse, clumsy and uneducated. His new peers offer him little but passive-aggressive condescension, but Fox is too thick to perceive this. Meanwhile, Eugen methodically chips away at Fox's holdings. "Fox and His Friends" is not as visually stylized as some other Fassbinder films, which is somewhat of a relief. The biggest problem is that its 123 minutes begin to drag before the tale reaches its inevitable, grim conclusion. It's a lot of film for such a simple, cautionary story.

Cast

            Rainer Werner Fassbinder as Fox

            Peter Chatel as Eugen

            Harry Baer as Philipe

            Adrian Hoven as Father

            Ulla Jacobsson as Mother

            Karlheinz Böhm as Max

            Liselotte Eder
            
            Irm Hermann
            
            Elma Karlowa
            
            Peter Kern
            
            Evelyn Künneke
            
            Rudolf Lenz
            
            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
            
See full cast