The Rainer Werner Fassbinder Collection

[J.A.F._Doorhof]

From: Wellspring Media

For Immediate Release

Wellspring Releases Two New Titles In Their On-Going Series The Rainer Werner Fassbinder Collection

New York, NY (August 20, 2002) - This September, Wellspring announces the release of two new classic films in their on-going series, The Rainer Werner Fassbinder Collection: The Marriage of Maria Braun and Katzelmacher. Each of the titles will feature newly-restored film transfers and subtitles. Both The Marriage of Maria Braun and Katzelmacher will be available at local retailer outlets beginning September 24, 2002. The dealer order date is August 28, 2002.

The Marriage of Maria Braun, hailed "a masterpiece" by The Village Voice, is the first in Fassbinder's trilogy of women in post-war Germany. Deemed as his most renowned and acclaimed film, The Marriage of Maria Braun won three German Oscars® for Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, in addition to receiving a Golden Globe Nominee for Best Foreign Film and winning the Silver Award at the Berlin Film Festival. Hanna Schygulla delivers a groundbreaking and award-winning performance. As proclaimed by The New York Times, "The Marriage of Maria Braun reminds us of the still immense possibilities of movies made by masters." The film has a running time of 120 minutes, is rated R and is German with English subtitles. It is available on VHS for $19.98.

Katzelmacher, called one of Fassbinder's "four indisputable masterpieces" by The New York Times, follows the lives of an aimless group of friends who spend their days outside their Munich apartment smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee and sleeping with each other. The German master presents a biting look at prejudice and xenophobia. Described as "engrossing" by The Boston Phoenix, Katzelmacher won four German Academy Awards including Outstanding Feature Film. The DVD special features include: a new transfer made from restored print; subtitle control; filmographies; weblinks; and more. The VHS is available for $19.98 and the DVD for $24.98.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder was one of the most prolific directors of German cinema leaving behind 41 feature films and 2 shorts, in addition to 14 plays, 4 radio dramas and numerous essays. His commercial breakthrough was The Merchant of Four Seasons (1971), and his international breakthrough was Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974). In 1982, he died of a drug overdose. June 2002 marked the 20th anniversary of his death, which often is considered the end of New German cinema.

Wellspring Media, Inc. is a leading independent supplier of notable film, television and video programming for customers with a sense of aesthetic, cultural and intellectual adventure. The company serves as a trusted filter, sifting through all available material and releasing only those titles worthy of its clients' attention.

The Marriage of Maria Braun
VHS Running Time: 120 Minutes
Language: German with English Subtitles
Catalog Number/SRP: FLV1752/$19.98
Order Cut-Off Date: August 28, 2002
Street Date: September 24, 2002

Katzelmacher
VHS Running Time: 88 minutes
Language: German with English Subtitles
Catalog Number/SRP FLV1753/$19.98
Order Cut-Off Date: August 28, 2002
Street Date: September 24, 2002

DVD Running Time: 88 minutes
Language: German with English Subtitles
Catalog Number/SRP FLV5331/$24.98
Order Cut-Off Date: August 28, 2002
Street Date: September 24, 2002