Michael Ballhaus on The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant

Sneak Peeks—

Jan 14, 2015

Share

Legendary German-born cinematographer Michael Ballhaus (Broadcast News, The Last Temptation of Christ, Goodfellas) broke through in film working with Rainer Werner Fassbinder. After shooting Whity and Beware of a Holy Whore for the filmmaker, Ballhaus was enlisted to visualize The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, which would prove to be Fassbinder’s most stylish movie yet. In this excerpt from an interview on our new release of the film, Ballhaus talks about the influence of Douglas Sirk on its compositions and his occasionally combative on-set relationship with Fassbinder.

Related Films

More: Sneak Peeks

A Subtler Side of the Hepburn-Grant Magic
A Subtler Side of the Hepburn-Grant Magic

Filmmaker and distributor Michael Schlesinger and critic Michael Sragow dive into the pleasures of Holiday, a romantic-comedy classic that has long stood in the shadow of The Philadelphia Story but has a poignancy all its own.

Inside Criterion / Sneak Peeks — Jan 13, 2020
Wim Wenders Looks Back on the Digital Future He Predicted
Wim Wenders Looks Back on the Digital Future He Predicted

From search engines to all-engrossing handheld devices, the technologies that the German director conjured for his 1991 opus Until the End of the World are now common features of contemporary life.

Inside Criterion / Sneak Peeks — Dec 13, 2019
John Bailey Breaks Down a Tour de Force of Gothic Lighting
John Bailey Breaks Down a Tour de Force of Gothic Lighting

The veteran cinematographer takes a close look at the highly stylized and atmospheric lighting in one of the most pivotal scenes in pre-Code classic The Story of Temple Drake.

Inside Criterion / Sneak Peeks — Dec 6, 2019
All About Mankiewicz
All About Mankiewicz

One of the most celebrated Hollywood writer-directors of his time, Joseph L. Mankiewicz offers a window into the way he sees his characters in this illuminating clip from an archival interview.

Inside Criterion / Sneak Peeks — Dec 3, 2019

You have no items in your shopping cart

View Cart Check Out
Close Menu

Search

For streaming, search the  Criterion Channel