Lola
Seen it?1981 | 113 min | Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 53 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Germany in the autumn of 1957: Lola, a seductive cabaret singer-prostitute exults in her power as a temptress of men, but she wants out—she wants money, property, and love. Pitting a corrupt building contractor against the new straight-arrow building commissioner, Lola launches an outrageous plan to elevate herself in a world where everything, and everyone, is for sale. Shot in childlike candy colors, Fassbinder’s homage to Josef von Sternberg’s classic The Blue Angel stands as a satiric tribute to capitalism.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerWeak
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 28K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Barbara SukowaLola
- Armin Mueller-Stahlvon Bohm
- Mario AdorfSchuckert
- Matthias FuchsEsslin
- Helga FeddersenFräulein Hettich
- Karin BaalLola's Mother
- Ivan DesnyWittich
- Elisabeth VolkmannGigi
- Hark BohmVolker
- Karl-Heinz von HasselTimmerding