Water Drops on Burning Rocks

A thought-provoking study of relationships based on the play Tröpfen Auf Heisse Steine, written at the age of 19 by Rainer Werner Fassbinder who never actually staged the play or adapted it for cinema.In the seventies, in Germany, naïve Franz, age 19, meets a successful business man and moves in with him. At first, the difference in age is no difficulty; however, a game of manipulation takes over the relationship and causes them to see only their differences and not what they share in common. As from then, no longer is there "us" . The situation becomes even more confused when the former girlfriends of each come onto the scene.Both Franz and Leopold are unhappy. Franz loses his identity to the desire of Leopold who admits he easily tires of things, and loses interest once the initial excitement is over. Once a relationship of power and domination has been established with his partner, he loses interest in same. In his wish to be loved, Franz allows himself to be swept away by Leopold?s games. As Fassbinder would say: "Love does not exist. There is only a possibility of love."

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA