Baal
(Baal)
by Volker Schlöndorff
West Germany 1969, 84’
Starring Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Hanna Schygulla, Margarethe von Trotta, Günther Neutze

Original version with Italian subtitles. Free entry.

In Celebration of R.W. Fassbinder’s 80th Anniversary (1945–2025)
In collaboration with Sicilia Queer Filmfest

Volker Schlöndorff’s adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s Baal tells the story of an anarchic, self-destructive poet who rejects societal norms, indulging in alcohol, fleeting passions, and violence. The film delves into the tension between genius and self-destruction, with Rainer Werner Fassbinder delivering a magnetic performance as the disturbing yet captivating antihero.

Schlöndorff’s raw and incisive direction highlights the darker themes of the original play, creating a provocative reflection on alienation and the fragility of creative genius.

La Deutsche Vita: A Journey Through German Cinema

This year, the film series celebrates the 80th anniversary of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, a pioneer of New German Cinema. His fearless storytelling exposed societal hypocrisy, power dynamics, and human contradictions. A tribute screening of Mother Küsters Goes to Heaven highlights themes of class, family, and postwar struggles. The program also explores memory, war, justice, and women’s roles, with motherhood symbolizing resilience amid today’s crises.

In Collaboration With:
Città di Palermo – Assessorato alla Cultura
Centro Evangelico di Cultura Giacomo Bonelli
Sicilia Queer Filmfest