Beware of a Holy Whore

Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Year Released: 1971
Rating: 3.0

I usually have a hard time telling when Fassbinder's joking or not (Katzelmacher seems like a joke, but I'm not exactly sure), but this one is almost certainly a parody on movie-making, with people drinking Cuba Libres to excess (and smashing the glasses), having sex with each other and generally in foul spirits. Some may view this - as Fassbinder's other 'early pictures' - as an insufferable bore, but I like the fact that it's not deadly serious (at one point, the hotel concierge passes out over the counter and no one notices - likewise, there are always people making out in the background) and is honest enough to show that movie-making can be something of a drag. At least Fassbinder is truthful with his crew and audience: he probably knew he wasn't the easiest guy to get along with.