---
title: "Despair"
year: 1978
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/despair-1978"
media_type: "movie"
tmdb_id: 42203
imdb_id: null
status: "Unknown"
community_rating: 6.5
vote_count: 0
content_rating: "Unrated"
---

# Despair (1978) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/despair-1978

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

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

## The Hook & The Verdict

## Streaming Availability Matrix

Direct streaming licensing updates dynamically. Consult the live tracking interface at https://www.archytele.com/show/despair-1978#watch.

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Where can I watch Despair?
Streaming availability for Despair varies by region and platform licensing. Use our live availability tracker above to check direct streaming, rental, or purchase links across major verified platforms.

### Q: Is Despair worth watching?
Despair holds a community rating of 6.5/10. It offers engaging Drama, Thriller for fans of the genre.

### Q: 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.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Despair — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/42203)
- [Despair (1978) - Full cast & crew - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077421/fullcredits/)
- [Despair (film) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despair_(film))
- [Despair (1978) - Cast & Crew — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/42203-despair/cast)
- [Ice Castles](https://www.wikiwand.com/)

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*