Heller Wahn (1983) : distribution, intrigue et streaming

Released in 1983, Heller Wahn is a drame 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 Ruth is withdrawn, a painter, possibly mentally ill.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. Heller Wahn 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, Heller Wahn has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In États-Unis you can stream it on Fandor Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Heller Wahn page.

If you liked it. Fans of Heller Wahn tend to enjoy Les Évadés, Le Parrain, La Liste de Schindler and Le Parrain, 2e partie.