Directed by:
Rainer Werner FassbinderScreenplay:
Rainer Werner FassbinderCast:
Hanna Schygulla, Wolfgang Schenck, Ulli Lommel, Lilo Pempeit, Herbert Steinmetz, Ursula Strätz, Irm Hermann, Karlheinz Böhm, Karl Scheydt, Barbara Lass (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
At the age of seventeen, the radiant Effi Briest (Hanna Schygulla) marries Baron von Instetten (Wolfgang Schenck), a diplomat twenty years her senior, and is whisked away to a remote Baltic port. Trapped in a passionless existence, she enters into a halfhearted affair with a charming military officer-an indiscretion that eventually brings her tragedy, ridicule and shame. Based on Theodor Fontane's classic 19th century novel, Effi Briest explores the strict social codes and conventions of Prussian society during the Bismarck era. Intended to be Fassbinder's directorial debut but delayed because of it's grand scale, the film was not released until 1974. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Hanna Schygulla](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/982/164982607_1e01f8.jpg)
Hanna Schygulla
German Empire
Best movies:
Werckmeister Harmonies (2000)
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) (series)
Hunting Scenes from Bavaria (1969)
Wolfgang Schenck
Best movies:
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) (series)
Martha (1974) (TV movie)
Effi Briest (1974)
![Ulli Lommel](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/280/280968_3d1b84.jpg)
Ulli Lommel
German Empire
Best movies:
Why Does Herr R. Run Amok? (1970)
Satan's Brew (1976)
Chinese Roulette (1976)
![Lilo Pempeit](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/405/159405968_fe2dd6.jpg)
Lilo Pempeit
Best movies:
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) (series)
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)
The Stationmaster's Wife (1977) (TV movie)
Herbert Steinmetz
German Empire
Best movies:
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) (series)
Effi Briest (1974)
Lola (1981)
Ursula Strätz
German Empire
Best movies:
Fox and His Friends (1975)
Effi Briest (1974)
The Niklashausen Journey (1970) (TV movie)
![Irm Hermann](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/909/159909705_7f761b.jpg)
Irm Hermann
German Empire
Best movies:
Der Zauberberg (1982)
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) (series)
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)
![Karlheinz Böhm](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/642/161642411_47a0b4.jpg)
Karlheinz Böhm
German Empire
Best movies:
Martha (1974) (TV movie)
Fox and His Friends (1975)
Effi Briest (1974)
Karl Scheydt
Best movies:
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) (series)
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)
The Stationmaster's Wife (1977) (TV movie)
![Barbara Lass](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/986/164986528_dd110a.jpg)
Barbara Lass
Poland
Best movies:
Effi Briest (1974)
Che gioia vivere (1961)
Ewa chce spać (1957)
![Rudolf Lenz](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/272/161272395_b83889.jpg)
Rudolf Lenz
Austria
Best movies:
Martha (1974) (TV movie)
Fox and His Friends (1975)
Effi Briest (1974)
Andrea Schober
Germany
Best movies:
Chinese Roulette (1976)
Effi Briest (1974)
The Merchant of Four Seasons (1971)
![Eva Mattes](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/750/159750211_c2bb03.jpg)
Eva Mattes
West Germany
Best movies:
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Jail Bait (1973) (TV movie)
Stroszek (1977)
Theo Tecklenburg
German Empire
Best movies:
Effi Briest (1974)
The Story of a Sinner (1951)
Anndorthe Braker
Best movies:
Effi Briest (1974)
Peter Gauhe
Best movies:
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)
Effi Briest (1974)
World on a Wire (1973) (TV movie)
![Barbara Valentin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/396/396109_6e40e4.jpg)
Barbara Valentin
German Empire
Best movies:
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) (series)
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)
Martha (1974) (TV movie)
![Hark Bohm](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/289/162289356_65055c.jpg)
Hark Bohm
German Empire
Best movies:
Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997)
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) (series)
Underground (1995)
![Rainer Werner Fassbinder](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270523_f211cc.jpg)
Rainer Werner Fassbinder (narrator)
Germany
Best movies:
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) (series) - actor, narrator
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)
The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979)
Wolfgang Hess
Switzerland
Best movies:
Treasure Island (1966) (series)
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)
Life Is All You Get (1997)