Rainer Werner Fassbinder had been wanting to adapt Theodor Fontane’s classic German novel Effi Briest ever since he first picked up a film camera. Originally intended to be his feature debut, the project took years to get off the ground and finally surfaced in 1974, in the process becoming his most expensive production to date as well as one of his most ambitious.

Dubbed ‘the German Madame Bovary’, Effi Briest tells of a seventeen-year-old girl (played by Hanna Schygulla) who is married off by her parents to a wealthy Baron (Wolfgang Schenk) more than twice her age. Lonely and dissatisfied, she seeks solace in the companionship of her husband’s friend, Major Crampas (Ulli Lommel).

Beautifully recreating late nineteenth century Germany and gorgeously shot in black and white, Effi Briest also serves to showcase Schygulla, here giving her first star performance for Fassbinder.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

Brand new 4K restoration of the films from original camera negatives
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
Original uncompressed PCM mono audio
Optional English subtitles
Audio commentary by Ken Moulden
Newly-filmed interview with actor Ulli Lommel
Newly-filmed interview with director of photography Jürgen Jürges
Theatrical trailer