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Trailer

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

1974Movie1 h 33 minNR

DramaRomance
91
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.0Rotten Tomatoes100%91%

A profoundly sad, moving romance movie about class and money and family.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

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Not for laughs or scares.

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Story

Emmi Kurowski, a cleaning lady, is lonely in her old age. Her husband died years ago, and her grown children offer little companionship. One night she goes to a bar frequented by Arab immigrants and strikes up a friendship with middle-aged mechanic Ali. Their relationship soon develops into something more, and Emmi's family and neighbors criticize their spontaneous marriage. Soon Emmi and Ali are forced to confront their own insecurities about their future.

Feels like

  • Melodrama
  • Social Commentary
  • Interracial Relationship
  • Age Gap Romance
  • Character-Driven
  • Melancholy
  • Critique of Prejudice
  • 70s German Cinema
  • Immigrant Experience

Cast

17 of 17

Crew

Directed by
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Written by
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Produced by
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Music by
Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 5, 1974 · 1 h 33 min · NR

Released
March 5, 1974
Runtime
1 h 33 min
Age rating
NR
Genres
Romance, Drama
Original language
German
Also spoken
Arabic
Made in
Germany
Budget
$130,000
Box office
$186,757
Available in
18 countries

Tropes

All of the Other Reindeer, Title Drop, Local Hangout +9

  • All of the Other Reindeer
  • Title Drop
  • Local Hangout
  • Creator Cameo
  • Reasonable Authority Figure
  • The Stoic
  • Leave the Camera Running
  • Maligned Mixed Marriage
  • May–December Romance
  • Green-Eyed Monster
  • Mr. Fanservice
  • Third-Person Person

12 of 16 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Ali: Fear Eats the Soul?"

Questions about Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Ali: Fear Eats the Soul?

HBO Max

In the United States, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul streams on HBO Max. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 12 other countries.

Is Ali: Fear Eats the Soul worth watching?

91
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 91 (IMDb 8 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). Critics rate it higher (100 out of 100) than audiences (86).

Is Ali: Fear Eats the Soul good for date night?

and 2 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing Safe

Yes: romance is 7 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Is Ali: Fear Eats the Soul plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Ali: Fear Eats the Soul in English?

GermanArabic

No, it was made in German, with some Arabic.