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The Marriage of Maria Braun Movie Review

The Marriage of Maria Braun is a 1979 drama film directed by Reiner Werner Fassbinder and starring Hanna Schygulla. It’s a very populist movie.

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“You’re not having an affair with me.

I’m having an affair with you“

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Near the end of World War II, Maria marries Hermann, who is immediately sent off to battle. When the war concludes, Maria believes that Hermann is dead. She starts working at an Allied bar, where she meets American soldier Bill. They start a relationship that is interrupted when Hermann returns alive. During a scuffle between the men, Maria accidentally kills Bill. Hermann takes the blame and goes to jail, while Maria begins a hard new life.

The storyline in this film plays like this very opulent, juicy woman’s melodrama that should appeal to most women out there and everybody who is into melodramas. I like the genre, but even I found that ending overly brutal and sudden. It was unnecessary to end it that way as it seemed so random and over-the-top.

Unlike the director’s other efforts, this is surely not among his sophisticated outings. The plot doesn’t have any particularly important themes in it, but on the other hand, it is undeniably highly entertaining in its juicy proceedings. Simply following this woman through her triumphs and travails was quite appealing, if a bit empty.

All of the men in the film are solidly developed and acted, but this is above all else a showcase for Hanna Schygulla. She here gave one hell of a performance as she commands the screen and is so natural and believable in all of her scenes. She reminded me of Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett O’Hara, and although clearly not as amazing as that character and actress, she still held her own. This is one of the best performances and characters in the history of German cinema.

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The Marriage of Maria Braun is well paced, superbly shot, well scored and also wonderfully written in its revealing, fun and layered dialogue. But the script is repetitive and very simplistic and Fassbinder here clearly made a movie that is intended for larger audiences, which is fine in and of itself, but I expect more from his caliber.