Fassbinder: Thousands of Mirrors

“145.
Today, all his petty tyranny and sexual serfdom and emotional blackmail and out-front substance abuse wouldn’t be tolerated, right? Of course not. (Or, at least, not in the same way.) Even back then, everyone involved doubtless knew it wasn’t ‘OK.’ But – I mean, look at the results! Rainer is so productive, he has such discipline! Which is true enough. He writes, shoots, casts and completes all his films with scarcely credible economy. In Hollywood, all that cocaine mania and ego indulgence and extensive use of close personal friends would result in films that took years to complete, with studio-destroying budget overruns. And they would still be deeply disappointing, if they were ever finished at all.

146.
He's not show more performative, not a subtle gaslighter, not a carefully conniving narcissist and control freak. If he has monstrous flaws then, well, at least they’re all upfront. There was no duplicity about what was on offer, positive or negative. If you didn’t like the setup why then just leave and go find another director to give you all these roles. He was the one holding purse strings and casting reins. Private life and working life became one and the same. Decisions made in camera. I suppose in 2022 we really should condemn such behaviour – but what would that achieve? I suppose it might make us all feel better about ourselves for a minute or two.” show less

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