Fox and His Friends Reviews

Director Fassbinder doubles as the lead in this unusual drama, a homosexual carnival barker and performer. When he wins a fortune in the lottery, he attracts Chatel, the lazy, manipulative scion of a declining aristocratic family. Chatel goes about systematically exploiting Fassbinder as the latter struggles to join the upper classes, typified by Chatel and his parents. One scene has the parents horrified by Fassbinder's table manners but completely accepting of the fact that their son is a homosexual who is milking this working-class buffoon for all he's worth. Fassbinder gives an excellent performance as the abused Fox, and the direction is of his usual high standard. FOX AND HIS FRIENDS was a moderate success that firmly established Fassbinder's reputation in the US. (In German; English subtitles.)