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IMDbPro

Sheer Madness

Original title: Heller Wahn
  • 19831983
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
261
YOUR RATING
Sheer Madness (1983)
  • Drama
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 Ruth is withdrawn, a painter, possibly ment... Read allOlga 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 Ruth is withdrawn, a painter, possibly mentally ill.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 19t... Read allOlga 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 Ruth is withdrawn, a painter, possibly mentally ill.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 wi... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
261
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Margarethe von Trotta
  • Writer
    • Margarethe von Trotta
  • Stars
    • Hanna Schygulla
    • Angela Winkler
    • Peter Striebeck
Top credits
  • Director
    • Margarethe von Trotta
  • Writer
    • Margarethe von Trotta
  • Stars
    • Hanna Schygulla
    • Angela Winkler
    • Peter Striebeck
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Photos26

    1 sheet movie poster
    Hanna Schygulla and Angela Winkler in Sheer Madness (1983)
    Hanna Schygulla and Angela Winkler in Sheer Madness (1983)
    Sheer Madness (1983)
    Angela Winkler in Sheer Madness (1983)
    Felix Moeller in Sheer Madness (1983)
    Sheer Madness (1983)
    Sheer Madness (1983)
    Sheer Madness (1983)
    Agnes Fink in Sheer Madness (1983)
    Peter Striebeck in Sheer Madness (1983)
    Sheer Madness (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hanna Schygulla
    Hanna Schygulla
    • Olgaas Olga
    Angela Winkler
    Angela Winkler
    • Ruthas Ruth
    Peter Striebeck
    Peter Striebeck
    • Franzas Franz
    Christine Fersen
    • Erikaas Erika
    Franz Buchrieser
    • Dieteras Dieter
    Wladimir Yordanoff
    Wladimir Yordanoff
    • Alexajas Alexaj
    Agnes Fink
    • Ruth's motheras Ruth's mother
    Felix Moeller
    Felix Moeller
    • Christofas Christof
    Jochen Striebeck
    • Brunoas Bruno
    Therese Affolter
    Therese Affolter
    • Renateas Renate
    Werner Eichhorn
    • Schlesingeras Schlesinger
    Karl Striebeck
    • Bruno's fatheras Bruno's father
    Peter Aust
    Peter Aust
    • Hansenas Hansen
    Helga Ballhaus
    Helga Ballhaus
    • Gallery Owneras Gallery Owner
    Selda Bondy
    • Doctoras Doctor
    Carla Egerer
    Carla Egerer
    • Frau Hansenas Frau Hansen
    Alexander Völz
    • Childas Child
    Irene Clarin
    Irene Clarin
    • Director
      • Margarethe von Trotta
    • Writer
      • Margarethe von Trotta
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final film of Carla Egerer.
    • Connections
      Featured in Die Neugier immer weiter treiben (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
      by Gerry Goffin and Carole King

    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Good take by "Von Trotta" on two different feminine worlds
    Director Margarethe Von Trotta is one of the most feminine issue-oriented film makers Europe has produced in the last 30 years. She has explored many facets of the German and Italian female universe in particular. In this film, she shows the catharsis experienced by two different women from two distinct worlds as a result of their unlikely friendship.

    This 1982 film, which I recently saw at a Von Trotta Retrospective, now has a crispy clear image which makes it look fresher than recent films. Since the subject matter is not date sensitive, one would think the film is brand new. However, if you know the two main actresses (two of Germany's greatest in the 70s and 80s), you'll know it's not as recent as it looks.

    The two actresses in the two main roles are Hanna Schygulla (also a Fassbinder muse) and Angela Winkler, who was Von Trotta's "Katharina Blum" some seven years before this performance. Winkler gives the stronger performance as Ruth, a mentally challenged artist with potential reactions like her "Katharina Blum" character.

    Schygulla is the apparently more centered Olga. She will help Ruth, and have a hand in Ruth's transformation, but she will also be affected by Ruth. Strong performances from both actresses, well directed by Von Trotta, make this film unusual in the realm of cinematic claustrophobic character studies. Another must-see for Von Trotta fans.
    helpful•10
    1
    • Guy33134
    • Mar 24, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1985 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • West Germany
      • France
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Friends and Husbands
    • Filming locations
      • Berlin, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Bioskop Film
      • Les Films du Losange
      • Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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