Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1974
NR; 93 minutes; German with English subtitles

“One of the most beautiful films ever made, plain and simple.”—Tom Huddleston, Time Out

The wildly prolific German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder pays homage to his cinematic hero Douglas Sirk in this update of Sirk’s 1955 film All That Heaven Allows. A lonely widow (Brigitte Mira) meets a much younger Arab worker (El Hedi ben Salem) in a bar during a rainstorm. They fall in love, to their own surprise and the outright shock of their families, colleagues, and drinking buddies. In Ali, Fassbinder expertly wields the emotional power of classic Hollywood melodrama to expose the racial tensions underlying contemporary German culture.

The “My Favorite Films” series features tales of romance, humor, suspense, satire, and heroism with films since 1945. These films may hold special memories for you—no matter how many times you see them, they continue to draw you in once more. While many of these films are available through streaming, it's always more fun to see them in the theatre.

This July, join us as we explore the human condition and the intricacies of interpersonal relationships in this month’s film series.

Make a day of it at the Modern and include extra time to visit the galleries. Enjoy lunch in Café Modern and then settle in for an afternoon screening, or plan for a coffee break afterwards with fellow film enthusiasts.

Screenings are at 2 pm most Wednesdays in the auditorium. Tickets are $5 (FREE for Modern members) and are available at the Museum’s admission desk or online. Click here to purchase tickets online.