Lola

Lola (1981)

  • 100% of critics liked it
    (7 reviews)

  • 81% of users liked it
    (1,486 ratings)

Part of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's The Entire History of the German Federal Republic trilogy, Lola stars Barbara Sukowa in the title role, a seductive cabaret singer and dancer in the 1950s who is romantically involved with Von Bohm (Armin Mueller-Stahl), a straight-as-an-arrow building inspector.… More

R, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Aug 20, 1981 Wide
United Artists Classics

Critic Reviews

  • Vincent Canby, New York Times

    A bitter, brisk, sometimes abruptly moving satire about the West German economic 'miracle' of the 50's.

  • Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

    I'm delighted to see someone running Rainer Werner Fassbinder's Lola. Actually, I'm just delighted to see someone running any Fassbinder film.

  • Michael Scheinfeld, TV Guide's Movie Guide

    It's a political fairy tale about duplicity and hypocrisy in which everything, including ethics and human flesh, is for sale, and self-esteem and worth is measured only in terms of money.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    It's wonderfully provocative as only Fassbinder can be.

  • Tom Dawson, Film4

    Again Fassbinder returns to Germany's past to reveal the workings of its stagnant moral present to powerful effect, boldly combining melodramatic storytelling, vibrant performances, garish visuals and searching analysis.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

  • Conner R


    I really didn't know what to expect from this, but I ended up really liking it. Having very little knowledge of post-war German social life, a lot of the plot was a little harder to pick up on, but the characters required no prerequisites. Barbara Sukowa's performance is… More

  • Eric B


    I'm a bit of a beginner when it comes to Fassbinder, but "Lola" strengthened my suspicion that he's not destined to be a favorite of mine. There's a lurid, degenerate quality to this tale which just dragged me down, and not in a good way. I much prefer… More

  • Jared H


    Great quirky performances, but I'm not so hot on the story.

Cast

See full cast