Sheer Madness (1983): cast, story & where to watch
1983 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1983, Sheer Madness is a drama film directed by Margarethe von Trotta, running about 105 minutes.
What it’s about. Olga and Ruth become friends. Olga is independent, separated from her husband, living with an immigrant pianist, and teaching feminist literature. Ruth is withdrawn, a painter, possibly mentally ill. Ruth dreams in black and white, sometimes of her suicide. Olga lectures on a 19th-century writer, von Günderrode, a suicide after the breakup of her intense friendship with Bettina Brentano. Ruth's husband Franz encourages the women's friendship, then, as Olga draws Ruth out and the friendship deepens, he becomes jealous. After the women travel to Egypt, Franz has a tirade. Ruth seems crushed between her husband and her friend, and how she responds is the film's climax.
Who’s in it. Sheer Madness stars Hanna Schygulla as Olga, Angela Winkler as Ruth, Peter Striebeck as Franz and Christine Fersen as Erika, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, Sheer Madness has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Fandor Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Sheer Madness page.
If you liked it. Fans of Sheer Madness tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Sheer Madness (1983)?
- In US, Sheer Madness is available to stream on Fandor Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Sheer Madness worth watching?
- Sheer Madness holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Sheer Madness?
- Sheer Madness stars Hanna Schygulla, Angela Winkler, Peter Striebeck, Christine Fersen and Franz Buchrieser.
- When was Sheer Madness released?
- Sheer Madness was released in 1983, with a runtime of about 105 minutes.