1 / 8
ERA
Did you know
43 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Sheer Madness
1983 1h 45m DE
👍
7.0
SOLID
★7.0TMDB · 10
Drama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Two women–a literature professor and a painter–start to rely upon their friendship as an alternative to their unhappy relationships with the men in their lives.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Hanna Schygulla
Olga
Angela Winkler
Ruth
Peter Striebeck
Franz
Christine Fersen
Erika
Franz Buchrieser
Dieter
Wladimir Yordanoff
Alexaj
Agnes Fink
Ruth's mother
Felix Moeller
Christof
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Margarethe von Trotta
- Writers
- Margarethe von Trotta
- Languages
- German
- Countries
- France, 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 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 2 countries: France, Germany.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Margarethe von Trotta, shot by Michael Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Nicolas Economou. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Dagmar Hirtz shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Hanna Schygulla and Angela Winkler and Peter Striebeck carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0085666 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Margarethe von Trotta directs. Michael Ballhaus behind the camera. Nicolas Economou scores. Dagmar Hirtz cuts. Produced in France, Germany. Dialogue in German.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 143 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 2International production across 2 countries: France, Germany.
- 3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
- 4Directed by Margarethe von Trotta, shot by Michael Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Nicolas Economou. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Dagmar Hirtz shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Hanna Schygulla and Angela Winkler and Peter Striebeck carry the top of the cast.
- 8IMDB entry: tt0085666 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 9Only 10 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Michael Ballhaus
- Original score
- Nicolas Economou
- Editing
- Dagmar Hirtz
- Costume design
- Monika Hasse
- Runtime
- 105 min · 1h 45m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- DE
Also by
Margarethe von Trotta
Production companies
Who made it
Les Films du Losange
FR
WDR
DE
Neue Bioskop Film
DE
Key crew
- Set DecorationJürgen Henze
- ProducerMargaret Ménégoz
- EditorDagmar Hirtz
- Costume DesignMonika Hasse
- Set DecorationWerner Mink
- ProducerEberhard Junkersdorf
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- friendship
- woman director
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical (limited)1985-09-20
Also known as
International titles
- L'amieFR
- Sheer MadnessGB
- Labour of LoveAU
- KvindegalskabDK
- Lucida folliaIT
- Ren illusionSE
- Vanviddets terskelNO
