Peter von Kant: Playful interpretation of Fassbinder’s “The bitter tears of Petra von Kant” by Fassbinder fan Francois Ozon, in which Petra is a man and a filmmaker.
Film plot and background
Playful interpretation of Fassbinder’s “The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant” by Fassbinder fan Francois Ozon, in which Petra is a man and a filmmaker.
Based on the film “The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant” by cult director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, director François Ozon sets out to give the film of yesteryear a new face. While “The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant” found its way to the Berlinale in 1972, 50 years later “Peter von Kant” is the opening film of the Berlinale 2022 and competes there for the Golden Bear.
The twist: Instead of casting the chamber play based on a play only with female actors as in the past, Ozon now turns Petra into Peter and casts Denis Ménochet (“Inglourious Basterds”), one of the most famous French actors of our time. Fashion designer Petra becomes filmmaker Peter.
A star of yesteryear can once again be found in front of the camera: Hanna Schygulla once played Karin Thimm, the woman with whom Petra entered into a relationship but grew tired of it after a very short time. The cast of the chamber play “Peter von Kant” is completed by Isabelle Adjani (“French Women”).
“Peter von Kant” – Ozon at the Berlinale
For the sixth time, a film by François Ozon is showing in the Berlinale Competition. He received awards for “8 Women” (Silver Bear for Special Artistic Achievement) and “Praised be God” (Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize), in which Ménochet already had the leading role.
The French filmmaker is himself a great fan of German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder and has already adapted “Drops on Hot Stones”, which was shown at the Berlinale in 2000. Filming took place within five weeks in Paris in the spring of 2021.
“Peter von Kant” – cinema release
The French chamber play “Peter von Kant” will find its way into regular German cinemas on 22 September 2022.
