Barbara Sukowa as Loh and Armin Mueller-Stahl as von Bohm look around at post-war Germany and at each other.
Lola
If you’ve never seen a film by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Lola, his most accessible work to date, is a good one to begin
with. If you are familiar with his work, you will find here a fulfillment, a maturing of his cinematic vision. He has chang*
ed and mellowed, lightened up, become almost loving in his subtle cynicism. Fassbinder died of a heart attack last sum
mer at the age of 36, having turned out more than 40 films in his intense 17-year career. Lola was released posthumously
and is to be followed by two others. One of them will complete a trilogy begun with the Marriage of Maria Braun, of
which Lola is the second film. Obviously, we have more to look forward to from Fassbinder's creative genius.
Cynicism has been the hallmark of Fassbinder's work, and Lola is cynical, but with humor and acceptance. The subject
is post war German reconstruction: the ambitions of the small-town characters mirror German society as it seeks to
become an influential and wealthy member of the international community. The central symbol of this ambition is the
character of Lola herself, a petit-bourgeois and very expensive prostitute who is truly one of the important people in
town. The nightclub/bordello where she sings is frequented by all the town fathers and by her lover, Schuckert, a big-time
developer who considers her his most exclusive property, Lola unabashedly and affectionately calls him a pig in every
possible way. Everyone in town is in on the corruption; even the local idealist Esslin accepts it along with his obligation to
insult them all. Into the picture like a whiff from a nobler past comes an outsider, a gentleman, a true idealist, von Bohm,
the new building commissioner. His courtliness and sincere humanism attracts everyone from his cleaning woman (who
is Lola's mother) to Schuckert himself. Inevitably von Bohm and Lola (who disguises her true identity) develop a
somewhat uneven interest in each other and the action really begins.
Fassbinder has set us up with almost a morality play on the conflict of idealism and pragmatism. Yet we are not over
whelmed by the message, for the characters are all incredibly rich and delightful. Barbara Sukowa as Lola ranges from
drunken petulance to virginal innocence to luscious sensuality. She reminds one of a more self-assured Marilyn Monroe.
Mario Adorf as Schuckert is as close to a likable corrupt pig as we're likely to see in awhile. And East German actor Ar
min Mueller-Stahl in his first western film, is consummate as Building Commissioner Von Bohm, a truly gentle man who
recognizes the duality of inner and outer realities. Helga Feddersen gives a wonderful performance as the perfect
secretary, as does Karin Baal as Lola’s mother.
Lola is filmed in luscious Hollywood style, with the nightclub scenes especially memorable in pink and blue lighting. It
is playing at the Bijou Theatre for the next week or so. Get by to see this remarkable film.
J ... —Pamela Seaworthy
* 2 • Lois Wadsworth
Reba Townsend, LMT
342-5366
Sliding Scale
Gift Certificates
The Healing Tree
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Counseling
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FULL BODY MASSAGE
• re-energized
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485-6742
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Available
Special: Buy 3. 1 Free!
Saturday
Ete.
Benefit sale of handwoven Guate
malan Huipils continues; see
Friday's listing for details.
Holiday Project sponsors a gift
making party; gifts to be given away
when visiting nursing homes and
hospitals on Christmas Day. Meet at
30 River Loop #1, from 2:30-5:30
pm. Materials provided at no cost.
Call 345-3277 for details.
Benefit for the Committee to Free the
Yellow Ribbon Burners at-Amazon
Child Care Center, 2227 Patterson,
#1, begins at 8 pm. $3 donation re
quested..
WISTEC presents "Winter Skies" at
1 and 3 pm; reduced prices are $1
adults, 50c students, free for chil
dren under 6. Open 12-5 pm, 2300
Centennial.
Christmas Tree Sale at the Lane
County-Extension Parking Lot, at
the Walterville Fire Station, and
Lowell High School Parking Lot
from 1-5 pm. Under 4' trees cost $2,
over 4', $3. Sponsored by Lane
County Extension 4-H Leaders As
sociation and Friends of Extension.
Etc.
BRING Recycling will pick up at the
following locations today: Willa
mette High School, North Eugene
High, Lincoln School, and
Whiteaker Elementary School.
Please call 746-3023 for times of the
free pick-up of recycled glass, metal,
paper ana usea motor on nearest
Film
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas plays at
180 PLC on the University Campus
at 7 and 9 pm. Sponsored by Anan
da Marga, the film costs $1.50/$1
child under 12, and stars Peter
Sellers "dropping out."
Roses in December, the story of Jean
Donovan, one of the four American
missionary women murdered in El
Salvador two years ago, will be
shown at 7:30 pm at 1236 Kincaid. A
small donation will be requested. In
troducing the film and speaking on
their personal campaign for justice
with be Pat and Ray Donovan,
parents of Jean Donovan. Call
484-5867 for more information.
at the Movies
Airplane 2: McDonald, Dec 9-16.
344-4343.
The Best Little Whorehouse in
Texas and A Little Sex: Oakway
Cinema, Dec 9-16. 342-5351.
Creep Show: Springfield Cinema,
Dec 9-16. 726-9073.
Five short comical horror
Eijanaika and Once Upon a Time
in the West: Cinema 7, Dec 10-16.
687-0733.
Eijanaika is a new Japanese
classic about a populist rebel
lion-gorgeous and anarchistic. It
means "what the Hell!" With an
Italian western starring Henry Fon
da and Jason Robards.
The Empire Strikes Back:
Springfield Cinema, Dec 9-16.
726-9073. Also at West 11th Tri
Cinema, Dec 9-16. 342-4142.
E.T.: Springfield Cinema, Dec.
9-16, 726-9073.
Everyone's favorite alien teams
up with the kids (as always) in the
latest chapter of Steven Spielberg's
UFO mythology.
First Blood: Cinema World, Dec
9-16. 342-6536.
Sylvester Stallone plays an ex
Green Beret who gets into violent
confrontations with authority once
he returns home.
48 Hours: West 11th Tri-Cinema,
Dec 9-16. 342-4142.
A couple of buddies shoot up the
neighborhood in the tradition of
Clint Eastwood. Nick Nolte stars.
Jabberwocky: Bijou, Dec 13-16.
Late show. 686-2458.
The Last Unicorn: Cinema World,
Dec 9-16. 342-6536.
‘ An animated version of the
unicorn fantasy.
Lola: Bijou, Dec 9-16, 686-2458.
One of Fassbinder's last movies,
released posthumously, expands
on his vision of German deca
dence. The story of a cabaret
singer who uses her relationships
with men as the arena to express
her power. Reminiscent of The
Blue Angel.
The Man from Snowy River:
Springfield Cinema, Dec 9-16.
726-9073.
An Australian family film with
Kirk Douglas: the story of a boy
who handles horses.
Missionary: Cinema World, Dec
9-16. 342-6536.
A proper British comedy about
an improper turn-of-the-century
priest who befriends the hookers.
Motherlode: Cinema World, Dec
9-16. 342-6536.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail:
Bijou, Dec. 9-12, late show. 342
4142.
An Officer and a Gentleman: May
flower, Dec 9-16. 345-1022.
Star Trek 11: The Wrath of Khan
and Dragonslayer: Fine Arts, Dec
9-16. 747-2201.
Tex: Valley River Twin, Dec 9-16.
686-8633.
A lighthearted and sweet story
about a teenager and his brother as
they grow up. Stars Matt Dillon.
Time Bandits and Poltergeist: Na
tional, Dec 9-16. 344-3431.
Two original science-fiction
films, the one a time-travel fan
tasy, the other a chilling family
horror story.
The Toy: Valley River Twin, Dec
10-16. 686-8633.
The World According to Garp:
West 11th Tri-Cinema, Dec 9-16.
Robin Williams is wonderful as
Garp in this indescribable film.
10% Labor Discount With This Ad
Saturday
Concert Music
Jack Daniel's Original Silver Cornet
Band presents a "Hometown Christ
mas" at the Hult Center for the Per
forming Arts, Silva Hall, at 8 pm.
Call 687-5000 for more information.
UO Children's Choir gives a holiday
concert at 8 pm in Beall Concert
Hall, UO campus. Groups will per
form Christmas music including
spirituals, folksongs, and traditional
carols; $2 adults, $1 senior citizens,
children.
Jan Gault will give flute recital at 8
pm in Room 198 UO School of
Music. She will be assisted by Larry
Clabby on piano and. Pam Birrell on
flute. Free.
Radio
Metropolitan Opera performs Satie's
’Parade" today beginning at 10:30
am on KWAX 91.1 FM.
Solar Power in the Third World is
the subject of New Dimensions, 11
am, KLCC 89.7 FM; guest is J. C.
Kapur.
Episode 3 of Star Wars, "White
Giants Mark Time," continues at 6
pm on KWAX.
Light the Menorah, a 12 hour docu
mentary on Hanukah at 7 pm on
KOAC AM.