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Despair

1978·Movie·117 min·6.5(47)

A hysterical comedy

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.

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Where to watch Despair in United States

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About Despair

Despair is a 1978 English-language drama and thriller film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The cast is led by Dirk Bogarde, Andréa Ferréol, Klaus Löwitsch. It has a runtime of 1h 57m.

Despair was produced by Bavaria Studios and made in Germany. It was released on September 15, 1978.

Director
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Writers
Tom Stoppard
Release date
September 15, 1978
Original language
English
Status
Released
Country
Germany
Budget
$3 million
Production
Bavaria Studios
#berlin, germany#husband wife relationship#based on novel or book#businessman#chocolate#identity#paranoia#identity crisis#attempt to escape#painter#republic of weimar#alienation#antisemitism#mental illness

Despair cast & crew

Despair was directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder and written by Tom Stoppard.

The cast features Dirk Bogarde as Hermann Hermann, Andréa Ferréol as Lydia Hermann, Klaus Löwitsch as Felix Weber, Volker Spengler as Ardalion, Bernhard Wicki as Orlovius, and Armin Meier as Silverman / Sergeant Brown / Foreman.

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Peer Raben, cinematography is by Michael Ballhaus, and it was produced by Peter Märthesheimer.

Is Despair worth watching?

At 1h 57m, it's a standard feature-length watch.

If you enjoy drama and thriller, Despair is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch Despair

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Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.

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Cast of Despair

Dirk Bogarde

Dirk Bogarde

Hermann Hermann

Andréa Ferréol

Andréa Ferréol

Lydia Hermann

Klaus Löwitsch

Klaus Löwitsch

Felix Weber

Volker Spengler

Volker Spengler

Ardalion

Bernhard Wicki

Bernhard Wicki

Orlovius

Armin Meier

Armin Meier

Silverman / Sergeant Brown / Foreman

Peter Kern

Peter Kern

Müller

Adrian Hoven

Adrian Hoven

Inspector Schelling

No photo

Alexander Allerson

Mayer

Hark Bohm

Hark Bohm

Doctor

Roger Fritz

Roger Fritz

Inspector Braun

Gottfried John

Gottfried John

Perebrodov

Despair — FAQs

Where can I watch Despair in United States?

Despair is not currently available on major streaming services in United States. Availability changes often — check back soon.

What language is Despair in?

Despair is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

How long is Despair?

Despair runs 1 hours 57 minutes (117 minutes).

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Despair (1978) — where to watch online · SearchOTT