Seduced & Abandoned -Marriage of Marie Braun

142. The Marriage of Marie Braun (1979) Fassbinder. Story of Marie Braun who picks herself up from the ruins of the 3rd Reich and uses her beauty and ambition to win economic success. The best thing in the movie is "Marie Braun" played by Hanna Shygulla - she's simply great in the role. But the script and story let her down. The movie drags on too long, the ending is contrived, and the characters unlikable and unengaging. Supposedly, Fassbinder was using Marie to symbolize Germany's blah blah blah - who cares. Another problem is the artificial lighting and sets which make the whole thing seem unreal. Too bad because Shygulla shines in the role. Rating **

Seduced and Abandoned (1964) - Germi. Comedy/Satire of Sicilian honor lawas by the director of "Divorce Italian Style" - A 15 year old Sicilian girl is seduced by her Sister's fiancee - when the seduction is discovered by her father he demands satisfaction and some comedy ensues. The movie is well directed and well-acted (if over-top) by everyone especially Uzi (the father). But I didn't really enjoy most of the movie except the last part when the daughter reports her seduction to the police, The characters (excluding the daughter) were simply too dis-likable. Germi doesn't just satirize them, he's savages them and portrays them as selfish, uncaring, and ugly, Labeled a "dark comedy" - it was a little too dark for me. Rating **1/2