Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

1974 · 1h33 · Film

Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Starring Brigitte Mira, El Hedi ben Salem, Irm Hermann, Barbara Valentin, Elma Karlowa, Anita Bucher, Gusti Kreissl, Doris Mattes, Margit Symo, Katharina Herberg

Ideal when you feel… Romantic

Emmi Kurowski, a cleaning lady, is lonely in her old age. Her husband died years ago, and her grown children offer little companionship. One night she goes to a bar frequented by Arab immigrants and strikes up a friendship with middle-aged mechanic Ali. Their relationship soon develops into something more, and Emmi's family and neighbors criticize their spontaneous marriage. Soon Emmi and Ali are forced to confront their own insecurities about their future.

Original title

Angst essen Seele auf

Original language

German

Screenplay

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Music

Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Cinematography

Jürgen Jürges

Cast

Barbara Valentin, Elma Karlowa, Anita Bucher, Gusti Kreissl, Doris Mattes, Margit Symo, Katharina Herberg, Lilo Pempeit, Walter Sedlmayr

Updated July 22, 2026

Trailer

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