Despair (1978)

In the shadowy folds of early-1930s Germany, the canvas of history is being stained by the rise of the Nazis. Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, we find Hermann Hermann, an elegant Russian émigré and owner of a thriving chocolate empire. As time wears on, Hermann's sanity begins to melt away like his finest confections, his mind gradually succumbing to an insidious madness. Hermann’s world is a hazy tableau of opulence and deceit, filled with characters as rich and varied as his chocolates. At the heart of his existence is Lydia, his voluptuous wife, a siren of beauty and vapidity, who secretly indulges in a liaison with her cousin. Their relationship, once sweet, now leaves a bitter taste in Hermann's mouth, his heartache amplified by his rising paranoia about his Jewish roots. As Hermann's mental state spirals, he becomes increasingly volatile, lashing out at employees, fellow businessmen, and even strangers. It is during this period of escalating turmoil that he crosses paths with Felix, an unemployed drifter. Hermann becomes convinced that Felix is his doppelgänger, a mirror image of himself - a delusion that feeds his growing paranoia. In a desperate bid to escape the confines of his unraveling reality and his profound despair, Hermann hatches an audacious plan. Armed with a fresh life insurance policy and his waning sanity, he aims to trade his life for an entirely new existence, using Felix as his unsuspecting pawn. But as his desire for transcendence gnaws at him, the question lingers: Will Hermann overcome his mental breakdown, or will he be consumed by his own despair? "Despair" is a chilling journey into the heart of a man's madness, set against a backdrop of societal upheaval, where personal demons and historical monsters dance a deadly waltz. This tale of identity, delusion, and desperation is as rich and complex as the chocolates Hermann crafts, making for a cinematic experience that is both bitter and sweet.

Despair is a drama movie featuring Dirk Bogarde and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

Despair is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.