Cheap I Only Want You to Love Me (Video) Price

Related Products

Customer Reviews of I Only Want You to Love Me

Bricklayer, Peter (Vitus Zeplichal) is a rather hapless young man--the only son of a distracted father and icy cold mother. Constant criticism and a total lack of affection from his parents, produces incredible self-doubt and a vast need for approval in Peter. As a child, he develops a habit of gift giving to win affection or approval. Peter's touching attempts to gain affection are largely ignored or even violently punished. As a result, Peter grows up to be a disconnected, disturbed young man. When Peter marries Erika, the young couple moves to Munich to make their own way in the world. Peter is a good, hard worker, and he very quickly finds employment. Life is bleak, however, and Peter succumbs to a constant drive to provide Erika with items they cannot afford. Payments on furniture stretch their budget to the limit, but Peter gives in to his desire to give Erika things that will please her and win her approval. The couple rapidly descends into debt. Bailouts are converted into mad impulse purchases, and as the situation heads into inevitable disaster, Peter sinks into depression. Peter cannot communicate his distress, and those who are supposed to be closest to him are oblivious to it.

This German film with English subtitles is a fine example of Fassbinder at his best. The story is deceptively simple, and the dilemma of a young working class couple is examined with fine detail. Their economic plight is one that many people can identify with. "I Only Want You to Love Me" is based on a true story and the film was originally made for television. Fassbinder fans will find this film to be one of the director's more psychological films. Fassbinder uses the character of Peter to examine the unconscious motivation behind his workaholic drive to work and the emotional void in his life which dictates he constantly shower his unaffectionate family members with gifts.

Fassbinder fans will also note the director's obsession with death is evident in the scenes that place Peter's mother on the settee--covered with flowers. The scene evokes an image of a corpse in a coffin. If you enjoy Fassbinder films as much as I do, then seek out a copy of this film--it's a masterpiece--displacedhuman