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R.W. Fassbinder was Germany's most prolific film maker of all times. He made up to ten movies a year. If one counts even the episodes of his series, he directed 66 movies in his short career of 13 years, to most of which he also wrote the scenarios, acted, cut and was sometimes his own camera operator besides being an author, a producer, a theater director and a composer. Hans Günther Pflaum's film on his friend Fassbinder is a very intelligently made "pot-pourri" hold together by crucial metaphysical features of Fassbinder's personality and work. Besides the usual crew interviews one is sad, shocked and thankful at the same time that Criterion has also inserted a part of Hans Hirschmüller's never released film with Kurt Raab, made only days before Raab died from Aids. Raab had played such unforgettable roles like Walter Kranz in "Satan's Brew", Franz Xaver Bolwieser in "The Stationmaster's Wife" and Herr R. in "Herr R. runs amok" besides having been a still unrecognized actor of world rank.

For all those who are convinced that outside of the US there are no self-made men, watch Fassbinder's career from being a bad high school student to his never finished acting school and his never passed exam for the directing school (while his colleague Daniel Schmid was accepted). Watch this genius who taught himself every single step in film making from writing a scenario up to cutting the final product, who went twice a week into a Munich public library to study the film magazines which he could not afford to buy. The man who was convinced that by watching movies only a film director could learn his basics, and who watched up to 5 movies per day before shooting his first long picture at the age of 20. R.W. Fassbinder was somebody who did not demand less than to change the world. In the same year when "I don't just want you to love me" was released, the German newspaper "Die Zeit" titled a big memorial article about him: "The hell? - The eternity!".

A wonderfully insightful and idea rich examination into the life and work of Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

Filled with excellently chosen excerpts from his many films and insightful comments from many of his collaborators, the film is divided into various sections which profile his life, career, and thoughts regarding the creative process.

Anyone with the slightest interest in Fassbinder (and European cinema in general) will be captivated and much rewarded by this documentary, which is far superior to the later 'Love, Life & Celluloid' by long time Fassbinder editor Juliane Lorenz. This incisive examination is the perfect starting point for anyone who seeks to know more about the great director. Very highly recommended.