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ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL on Blu-ray

Angst Essen Seele auf Blu-ray-Cover deutsch Foto rechtsRainer Werner Fassbinder’s ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL is now being released in two Blu-ray editions in its restored version. The film is being brought out in Germany by Studio Canal, and for the English-speaking market as a part of the Criterion Collection. The restoration was made possible by the German Federal Film Board’s content-digitization program, which is providing the RWFF with funding for ten films. Along with a new 4K scan of ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL, the Blu-rays also offer extensive bonus material. This includes an interview with Brigitte Mira, the Fassbinder-inspired short film ANGST ISST SEELE AUF (2002), and a discussion with the American director Todd Haynes, who, with FAR FROM HEAVEN, has also made an hommage to Douglas Sirk.

Fassbinder made the tragic love story between the cleaning woman Emmi (Brigitte Mira) and the young Moroccan Ali (El Hedi ben Salem), who is twenty years her junior, as a tribute to Douglas Sirk’s melodrama ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS. In his new interpretation, the lovers are not only forced to struggle against the prejudices of a conservative society but also with the different expectations they each have of their relationship.

The Criterion Collection Blu-ray was released on 30 September. The Studio Canal release is scheduled for 21 November.

More information

Criterion Collection release:
http://www.criterion.com/films/152-ali-fear-eats-the-soul

Studio Canal release:
http://www.studiocanal.de/blu-ray/angst_essen_seele_auf-blu-ray

The pages of the petition Filmerbe in Gefahr (Film Heritage in Danger):
http://filmerbe-in-gefahr.de/page.php?0,710,0,

Photo left: © Criterion Collection
Photo right: © Studio Canal

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