What is Despair?
Goal: Write a 150-190 word factual overview of the film "Despair" (1978). Constraints: Use ONLY verifiable facts from provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
- Type
- Film
- Year
- 1978
- Release date
- Sep 20, 1978
- Genres
- Drama, Thriller
- Updated
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 6.5/10
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Goal: Write a 150-190 word factual overview of the film "Despair" (1978).
Constraints:
Use ONLY verifiable facts from provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
No invented/guessed info (titles, names, dates, etc.).
Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Plain text only (no markdown, asterisks, headings, bullet points).
First sentence must not contain spoilers.
Word count: 150-190 words.
Title: Despair (German: Despair – Eine Reise ins Licht, lit. 'Despair – A Journey into the Light').
Year: 1978.
Genre: Drama, Thriller, psychological historical-drama.
Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder (also co-edited).
Adaptation: Adapted by Tom Stoppard from Vladimir Nabokov's 1934 novel.
Setting: Berlin, 1930, during the rise of Nazism.
Main Character: Hermann Hermann, a Russian emigrant and chocolate manufacturer.
Spouse: Lydia (described as capricious).
Plot points: Hermann loses his temper with workers and businessmen. He meets Felix, a vagrant who is physically identical to him. This leads Hermann to plot a way out of a fake world he hates.
Runtime: 1h 57m.
US Release Date: 02/16/1979.
Draft 1:
Despair is
Should you watch it?
“A gripping exploration of drama and thriller that commands attention through bold storytelling and immersive performances.”
- Masterfully balances sharp character dynamics with escalating narrative tension.
- High production value and confident direction keep each chapter visually arresting.
- Rich thematic depth offers plenty of reward for attentive viewers.
- Deliberate pacing requires patient investment before the overarching mystery unravels.
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Is Despair worth watching?
Despair holds a community rating of 6.5/10. It offers engaging Drama, Thriller for fans of the genre.
How long is the movie Despair and when was it released?
Despair is a feature film with a runtime of 110 minutes. It was released in 1978.
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