US 
Canada 
Mexico 
Spain 
UK 
Ireland 
Australia 
Argentina 
Chile 
Colombia 
Uruguay 
Paraguay 
Peru 
Ecuador 
Venezuela 
Costa Rica 
Honduras 
Guatemala 
Bolivia 
Dominican Rep. The Merchant of Four Seasons
- Original title
- Händler der vier Jahreszeiten
- Year
- 1971
- Running time
- 89 min.
- Country
Germany - West Germany (FRG)- Director
- Screenwriter
- Cast
-
Hans Hirschmüller
Irm Hermann
Hanna Schygulla
Gusti Kreisal
Kurt Raab
Klaus Löwitsch- Andrea Schober
Ingrid Caven- Karl Scheydt
- Heide Simon
El Hedi ben Salem
Rainer Werner Fassbinder- See all credits
- Music
- Cinematography
- Producer
- Genre
- Drama
- Synopsis
- Der Händler der vier Jahreszeiten (The Merchant of Four Seasons) is one of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's several "bourgeois films" that depict and critique middle-class society. The film deceptively unfolds like a standard bourgeois melodrama: there is the black sheep son, the disappointed mother, the unhappy wife, the sympathetic sister. Its protagonist, Hans (Hans Hirschmüller), deteriorates predictably: the love of his life marries another for prestige, his mother openly despises him, his wife manipulates him, he cannot run his business himself, and he drinks himself to death. Yet, these generic constructs match the middle-class ritual that emasculates and destroys men like Hans. When his loving sister defends him to his family, he hushes her. Hans has accepted his place as the pathetic character that they describe. He does not know enough to blame those around him for his emotional destruction, and (as brilliantly embodied by Hirschmüller) cannot leave them for a better life because they have already sucked up his courage and strength. Many films attack the bourgeois, but very few have the guts to show a heterosexual man as its victim. Hans' story is both different and effective. Aubry Anne D'Arminio - All Movie Guide.
- Rankings Position
- Awards
-
1971: 2 German Film Award: Best Actor and Actress
- Movie Soulmates' ratings
-
Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
- Friends' ratings
-
Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.
Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to [email protected]All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.
For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org
