Despair(1978)
A hysterical comedy
Despair Synopsis
Berlin, 1930, during the rise of Nazism. Hermann Hermann, a Russian emigrant and chocolate manufacturer, married to the capricious Lydia, loses his temper more and more every day when dealing with his workers and other businessmen; until he meets Felix, a vagrant, who seems to be physically identical to him; a disconcerting fact that leads Hermann Hermann to plot a particular way out of a fake world he actually hates.
Despair (1978) is a drama and thriller film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, released on September 20, 1978 with a runtime of 1h 57m. It stars Dirk Bogarde, Andréa Ferréol, Klaus Löwitsch and Volker Spengler. Viewers rate it 6.5 out of 10 across 48 ratings.
- Director:
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Writers:
- Tom Stoppard, Vladimir Nabokov
- Producers:
- Peter Märthesheimer
- Cinematographer:
- Michael Ballhaus
- Composer:
- Peer Raben
- Production:
- Bavaria Studios
- Budget:
- $2,600,000
- Status:
- Released
Despair (1978) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Despair before you stream it.
Despair Cast & Crew
Main cast
Dirk Bogarde
as Hermann Hermann
Andréa Ferréol
as Lydia Hermann
Klaus Löwitsch
as Felix Weber
Volker Spengler
as Ardalion
Bernhard Wicki
as Orlovius
Armin Meier
as Silverman / Sergeant Brown / Foreman
Peter Kern
as Müller
Adrian Hoven
as Inspector Schelling
- Alexander Allerson
Alexander Allerson
as Mayer
Hark Bohm
as Doctor
Roger Fritz
as Inspector Braun
Gottfried John
as Perebrodov
Key crew
Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, written by Tom Stoppard and Vladimir Nabokov, produced by Peter Märthesheimer.
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Despair Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 6.5/10 from 48 ratings.
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Despair – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Despair online?
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Despair (1978) does not have a confirmed streaming, rental or digital purchase option listed for your region yet. Availability is refreshed regularly, so check back for updates.
Who stars in Despair?
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The main cast of Despair (1978) includes Dirk Bogarde, Andréa Ferréol, Klaus Löwitsch, Volker Spengler and Bernhard Wicki. The film was directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was Despair released?
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Despair was released on September 20, 1978 and runs for 1h 57m.
Is Despair worth watching?
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Despair (1978) holds an average rating of 6.5 out of 10 from 48 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama and thriller films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for Despair?
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Yes. The official Despair trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.