The Tenderness of Wolves (film)

The Tenderness of Wolves, (German: Die Zärtlichkeit der Wölfe) is a 1973 West German drama film directed by Ulli Lommel. The story is based on the crimes of German serial killer and cannibal Fritz Haarmann. It was written by Kurt Raab, who also stars in the film, and produced by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. It was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival.

The Tenderness of Wolves
German theatrical release poster
Die Zärtlichkeit der Wölfe
Directed byUlli Lommel
Produced byRainer Werner Fassbinder[1]
Screenplay byKurt Raab[1]
Starring
Music byPeer Raben
CinematographyJürgen Jürges[1]
Edited by
  • Thea Eymèsz
  • Rainer Werner Fassbinder[1]
Production
companies
Tango-Film[1]
Distributed byCinegate (1976, UK)
Release date
  • June 29, 1973 (1973-06-29)
Running time
82 minutes[1]
CountryWest Germany[1]
LanguageGerman

Plot

Fritz Haarmann is a serial killer who uses his position as a government inspector to rape and murder young boys in war-torn Germany. After killing his victims, he sells the meat to local restaurants and also consumes it with his circle of unknowing friends.[2]

Cast
  • Kurt Raab – Insp. Fritz Haarmann
  • Jeff Roden – Hans Grans
  • Margit Carstensen – Frau Lindner
  • Ingrid Caven – Dora
  • Wolfgang Schenck – Kommissar Braun
  • Brigitte Mira – Louise Engel
  • Rainer Hauer – Kommissar Müller
  • Barbara Bertram – Elli
  • Rainer Werner Fassbinder – Wittowski
  • Heinrich Giskes – Lungis
  • Friedrich Karl Praetorius – Kurt Fromm
  • Karl von Liebezeit – Herr Engel
  • Walter Kaltheuner – Schuhmacher
  • El Hedi ben Salem – Französischer Soldat
  • Rainer Will – Opfer (as Reiner Will)

Release

The Tenderness of Wolves was released on June 29, 1973.[1] The film was released in the UK in May 1976[3] The 2015 Blu-ray release in the USA and the UK by Arrow Video offered a new high definition digital transfer of the film as well as an introduction and audio commentary by Ulli Lommel.[4]

Reception

Roger Ebert rated the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, calling it " a nasty little melodrama, lurid and creepy and sometimes bordering on demented humor. It's the kind of movie we may not exactly enjoy, but we don't walk out on."[5]

Vincent Canby of The New York Times gave the film a positive review, commending the film's performances, cinematography, and direction.[6] Dennis Schwartz from Ozus' World Movie Reviews awarded the film a grade A, calling it "A wickedly entertaining but harrowing tale"; praising the film's expressionistic style, direction, and Raab's performance.[7] Chris Coffel from Bloody Disgusting praised the film for its historical accuracy, and unconventional narrative, stating that it was arguably Lommel's best film.[8] Clayton Dillard of Slant Magazine awarded the film 4.5 out of 5 stars, writing "If Tenderness of the Wolves works on a reflexive register, it’s due to Raab’s performance, which consistently displays his own homosexuality in a fashion that blurs lines between fiction and documentary, albeit a bit coarsely, since Lommel often trains his camera on Haarmann’s sexual encounters to milk their exploitative potential."[9]

References
  1. "Die Zärtlichkeit der Wölfe". Filmportal.de. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  2. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tenderness-of-the-wolves-1976
  3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070957/releaseinfo?ref_=tt_ql_dt_2
  4. https://arrowfilms.com/product-detail/tenderness-of-the-wolves-dual-format/FCD1170
  5. Ebert, Roger. "Tenderness of the Wolves Movie Review (1976)". RogerEbert.com. Roger Ebert. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  6. Canby, Vincent. "Screen: Vampire In Fassbinderland - The New York Times". NYTimes.com. Vincent Canby. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  7. Schwartz, Dennis. "tendernessofthewolves". Sover.net. Dennis Schwartz. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  8. Coffel, Chris. "[Blu-ray Review] 'Tenderness of the Wolves'". Bloody Disgusting.com. Chris Coffel. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  9. Dillard, Clayton. "Blu-ray Review: Tenderness of the Wolves - Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine.com. Clayton Dillard. Retrieved 16 May 2019.


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