Lola

1981 1h 53m DE

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 145

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Germany in the autumn of 1957: Lola, a seductive cabaret singer-prostitute exults in her power as a temptress of men, but she wants out—she wants money, property, and love. Pitting a corrupt building contractor against the new straight-arrow building commissioner, Lola launches an outrageous plan to elevate herself in a world where everything, and everyone, is for sale. Shot in childlike candy colors, Fassbinder’s homage to Josef von Sternberg’s classic The Blue Angel stands as a satiric tribute to capitalism.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Barbara Sukowa
Lola
Armin Mueller-Stahl
von Bohm
Mario Adorf
Schuckert
Matthias Fuchs
Esslin
Helga Feddersen
Fräulein Hettich
Karin Baal
Lola's Mother
Ivan Desny
Wittich
Elisabeth Volkmann
Gigi

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Writers: Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Pea Fröhlich, Peter Märthesheimer
Languages: Latin, German, English, French
Countries: Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

45 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Latin, German, English, French.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, shot by Xaver Schwarzenberger. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Peer Raben. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Juliane Lorenz shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Barbara Sukowa and Armin Mueller-Stahl and Mario Adorf carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0082671 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Rainer Werner Fassbinder directs. Xaver Schwarzenberger behind the camera. Peer Raben scores. Juliane Lorenz cuts. Produced in Germany. Dialogue in Latin, German, English, French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

145 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Latin, German, English, French.
3Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, shot by Xaver Schwarzenberger. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Peer Raben. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Juliane Lorenz shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Barbara Sukowa and Armin Mueller-Stahl and Mario Adorf carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0082671 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 20 themes, including "corruption", "based on novel or book", "sexual obsession", "capitalism".