The Fassbinder Season at the Edinburgh Filmhouse is drawing to a close with its penultimate film The Marriage of Maria Braun. The movie was released in 1979 and was a massive success for the director and its star Hanna Schygulla. Rainer Werner Fassbinder had collaborated with Schygulla on many films in the past (notably on The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant and Effi Briest, which also screened as part of the Filmhouse Fassbinder season) and their successful working relationship is obvious in her beautiful and attention grabbing performance. Hanna Schygulla hadn’t appeared in a Fassbinder film for many years previous to The Marriage of Maria Braun, but any resentment felt between the pair is not evident on screen.

The movie begins with a wedding which is taking place during an air raid. As anarchy ensues around them Maria (Hanna Schygulla) and Hermann Braun (Klaus Löwitsch) endeavour to exchange their vows and frantically sign a marriage certificate. Soon after Hermann returns to the front line of World War 2, while life continues for Maria. Maria is eventually told of the death of her husband and begins a relationship with an African-American soldier named Bill (George Eagles). A twist in the story is revealed when we realise that Maria had been given false information on her husbands plight. The pair find themselves separated again as Hermann takes the blame and is imprisoned for the death of Bill. Maria eventually meets an older and wealthier man named Karl Oswald (Ivan Desny) and takes advantage of his generosity. The movie meets a tragic and melodramatic conclusion when Maria uncovers that her husband and Karl Oswald may not have been entirely honest with her.

Maria Braun is a powerful and forceful character. She does not suffer fools gladly and thrives on taking control of every situation she finds herself in. It is the lack of control which is her eventual downfall and leads to the shocking final scenes. The performance of Hanna Schygulla really holds the film together and keeps the viewer gripped on the story and the predicament of Maria. Fassbinder keeps his camera focussed on Schygulla throughout and allows the actor to shine in the lead role.

The Marriage of Maria Braun is the first part of Fassbiner’s BRD Trilogy. This is a collection of three films that are connected thematically and concern themselves with economy in post World War 2 Germany. The other films, Veronika Voss and Lola continue the trilogy and as with The Marriage of Maria Braun, underline Fassbinder’s reputation as a master of German cinema.