THE FAN

THE FAN (DER FAN), 1982
West Germany | Blu-ray, Color, 92' | German
Director: Eckhart Schmidt
Cast: Désirée Nosbusch, Bodo Steiger, Simone Brahmann

The film’s protagonist Simone looks like a normal teenager, yet she is a true fanatic. Her admiration for a pop singer named “R” has now become an obstacle that keeps her from eating, going to school and go about her daily life; her admiration has turned into a form of worship. Everyday, she waits in front of the post office in expectation for a response to her letter to her idol, and when she actually meets the famous “R” at an autograph session, she faints from excitement. After a while when “R” admits that he doesn’t like Simone, events take on a different turn. Fanatic unapologetically addresses the question of “What happens to the violent energy of unrequited love when this love has turned into an obsession?”