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29 Jan – 8 Feb 2026

Querelle

Rainer Werner Fassbinder | France | 1982 | 108' | | IFFR 2001

Grand romantic love filled with sacrifice between the harbour hooker played by Jeanne Moreau and the drug-smuggling gay sailor Querelle (Brad Davis) against the background of the criminal harbour quarter of Brest. A melancholy background that was given a special literary twist in the novel by Jean Genet and then a lusty visualisation in Fassbinder’s portrayal. The provocative literary amorality of Genet was coated by Fassbinder with a provocative and colourful Baroque. It was Fassbinder’s last film and, partly as a result, this exuberant film about gay passion, murder and sadism is often interpreted as his last will and testament. However within this programme, we are interested in the myth of the sensual sailor. Querelle kills his co-smuggler Vic and allows himself to be sexually used by a police Commissioner among others. In the end he shops a paedophile and sex killer to the police and escapes the hell of Brest via the sea. (GjZ)

Film details

Countries of production
France, Germany
Year
1982
Festival edition
IFFR 2001
Length
108"
Medium/Format
35mm

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