

Despair
“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.
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
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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Cast of Despair

Dirk Bogarde
Hermann Hermann

Andréa Ferréol
Lydia Hermann

Klaus Löwitsch
Felix Weber

Volker Spengler
Ardalion

Bernhard Wicki
Orlovius

Armin Meier
Silverman / Sergeant Brown / Foreman

Peter Kern
Müller

Adrian Hoven
Inspector Schelling
Alexander Allerson
Mayer

Hark Bohm
Doctor

Roger Fritz
Inspector Braun

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).











