Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 31, 2014

Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant" a.k.a. "Die bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant" (1972) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include Thomas Honickel's documentary film "Role Play: Women on R. W. Fassbinder" (1992); new video interview with cinematographer Michael Ballhaus; new video interview with professor Jane Shattuc; and new documentary film featuring interviews with actors Hanna Schygulla, Margit Carstensen, Eva Mattes, and Katrin Schaake. The release also arrives with an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by film critic Peter Matthews. In German, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Karin, Sidonie and Petra

There is an instant attraction between the two women. The older, stronger and more direct one, Petra von Kant (Margit Carstensen, Possession, Mother Küsters Goes to Heaven), a successful and wealthy fashion designer, immediately begins studying her guest and the manner in which she responds to her questions. The younger woman, Karin Thimm (Hanna Schygulla, The Marriage of Maria Braun), finds the confidence of the hostess irresistibly attractive and quickly warms up to her. Before they part ways, the older woman casually invites the younger woman to come back on the following night.

This time the two women are far more relaxed, far more honest with each other. They talk about their private lives, the difficulties they have had to overcome, and their desires. They also make love.

A third woman, Marlene (Irm Hermann, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul), is always somewhere in the back, listening and occasionally observing the two women. She never speaks. She follows orders and makes sure that the hostess has everything she needs.

After the younger woman agrees to move in with the older woman and begins modeling, their relationship changes -- they switch roles and then gradually discover that they have misinterpreted their intentions. Eventually, they hurt each other and part ways.

Heartbroken and on the verge of a serious nervous breakdown, the older woman begins abusing her silent maid and questioning the life her professional success has given her.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant feels like a brilliant theater play seen through the eyes of a great stage director. Virtually the entire film takes place inside a single room where the camera is strategically positioned to capture the emotions of the women as they interact with each other. Some of the static shots remind of Japanese master Yasujiro Ozu’s work (the floor level shots), while the numerous facial close-ups easily could have appeared in an Ingmar Bergman film.

The dynamics of the relationships are clearly inspired by those witnessed in Douglas Sirk’s films. There is added depth, however, and the character transformations are far more intense. The women are also defined by the environment in which they are placed, much like many of the main characters in Sirk’s films are. The end result is a stunningly stylish but borderline claustrophobic film.

The abuse of power is observed from a number of different angles as the relationships between the women evolve. Instead of condemning or siding with any of the women, however, the film effectively forces the viewer to ponder the reasoning behind their decisions to commit to a relationship, their expectations, and ultimately their definition of love (feeling vs. possession).

The film is based on a play which Fassbinder had completed earlier in his career. Also, portions of it imitate the dynamics of his relationship with Gunther Kaufmann (who was Karin's model in real life).

Fassbinder and the German cinematographer Michael Ballhaus shot the film, which was their third collaboration (after Whity and Beware of a Holy Whore), in ten days. Years later, Ballhaus also collaborated with director Marin Scorsese on many of his greatest films, including GoodFellas, The Last Temptation of Christ, and the Oscar winner The Departed.

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Rainer Werner Fassbinder's The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"Supervised by director of photography Michael Ballhaus and produced by the Rainer Werner Fassbinder Foundation, this new digital transfer was created in 4K resolution on an ARRISCAN film scanner from the original camera negative at ARRI Film & TV in Munich, where the film was also restored.

Transfer supervisor: Michael Ballhaus.
Colorist: Traudi Nicholson/ARRI Film & TV Munich."

Recently restored in 4K, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant looks gorgeous in high-definition. Detail and clarity are enormously impressive, while image depth is the best that I have seen to date on any Fassbinder film. Perhaps the most striking improvements, however, are in the area of color reproduction. Indeed, there is an entirely new range of beautifully nuanced colors that give the film an entirely new identity. (If you have only seen the old DVD release from Wellspring, prepare yourself for an entirely new visual experience). Grain is wonderfully resolved and evenly distributed throughout the entire film. Also, there are no traces of problematic sharpening adjustments. Overall image stability is excellent. Finally, there are no encoding anomalies to report in this review. All in all, this is a fabulous restoration of The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, which I am convinced will remain the film's definitive presentation on the home video market. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: German LPCM 1.0. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.

The film does not have a prominent music score. There are only small bits from a couple of tunes by The Platters and Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata that are heard during a couple of key sequences. Unsurprisingly, dynamic intensity is quite limited. The dialog is exceptionally crisp, stable, clean, and very easy to follow. The English translation is excellent.

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Outsiders - in this new documentary film, actors Hanna Schygulla (Karin Thimm), Margit Carstensen (Petra von Kant), Eva Mattes (Gabriele von Kant), and Katrin Schaake (Sidonie von Grasenabb) discuss their contributions to The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, the film's visual style (and specifically its theatrical qualities and Michael Ballhaus' lensing), the relationships between the main characters and the film's message, Rainer Werner Fassbinder's directing methods and the group of actors he felt most comfortable working with (the Anti-Theater troupe), the German director's relationship with Gunther Kaufmann (who was Karin Thimm's model in real life), etc. The documentary film was produced by Criterion in 2014. In German and English, with optional English subtitles where necessary. (31 min, 1080p).

• Michael Ballhaus - in this new video interview, cinematographer Michael Ballhaus discusses his professional relationship with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, which began with Whity, the German director's admiration for Douglas Sirk's work, and some of the unique challenges he faced during the shooting of The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in Berlin in 2014. In English, not subtitled. (8 min, 1080p).

• Jane Shattuc - in this new video interview, Jane Shattuc, professor of visual and media arts at Emerson College and author of Television, Tabloids, and Tears: Fassbinder and Popular Culture, discusses Rainer Werner Fassbinder's fascinating relationship with the actors from the Anti-Theater troupe, his treatment of women in front and behind the camera, the Brechtian qualities of his films, his admiration for Douglas Sirk's melodramas, the victims and victimizers in The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in September 2014. In English, not subtitled. (24 min, 1080p).

• Role Play: Women on R. W. Fassbinder - presented here is an archival documentary film which was produced by Thomas Honickel for German television in 1992. Actors Hanna Schygulla, Irm Hermann, Margit Carstensen, and Rosel Zech discuss their complex personal and professional relationships with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, the manner in which he frequently provoked some of them, how during the shooting of The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant occasionally the line that separated the personalities of the women they played from their own was blurred, the German director's fondness for Hollywood cinema and strong female stars (Barbara Stanwyck and Bette Davis), the difficult relationship he had with his mother, his romantic life, etc. In German, with optional English subtitles. (59 min, 1080i).

• Leaflet - illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by film critic Peter Matthews.

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Impeccably acted and brilliantly lensed, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant is unquestionably one of German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder's very best films. It transitions to Blu-ray after a stunning new 4K restoration which has been supervised by its director of photography, Michael Ballhaus. Also included on the Blu-ray are Thomas Honickel's outstanding documentary film Role Play: Women on R. W. Fassbinder as well as an excellent new program featuring exclusive interviews with actors Hanna Schygulla, Margit Carstensen, Eva Mattes, and Katrin Schaake. In my opinion, this is one of the best additions to Criterion's catalog in a very long time. Do not miss it, folks. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.