The Shift of Perspectives Methodical Suggestions for the Comparison of Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (Fassbinder) and Head-On (Akin)

Based on Alain Bergala’s pedagogical approach, the article discusses the methods for an in-class comparison of two films – Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (Angst essen Seele auf, 1974) and Head-On (Gegen die Wand, 2004). With a thorough analysis and comparison of photograms, an analysis and comparison of sample sequences from both films and reference to other works, the article draws nearer to both films in their entirety. Starting with details, it successively expands the viewing angle on their totality and contexts. There are three main motifs: (1) the motif of two people with a different social status that plays the key dramaturgical role in both films (2) the motif of being ostracised from the family (3) the motif of loneliness in the form of a television set, which provides another angle on film history.

The integral version of this article can be found in the printed KINO!