The bitter tears of Petra von Kant

The successful fashion designer Petra von Kant (Margit Carstensen) lives in an opulently furnished luxury apartment together with her servant Marlene (Irm Hermann). She falls passionately in love with the younger Karin (Hanna Schygulla), but she is only exploited by her. When Karin's husband returns from Australia after a long absence, she leaves Petra. This offers Marlene, who she had treated like a piece of furniture, freedom and pleasure. Marlene, who never said a word, packs her suitcase and leaves Petra. The story of power and oppression, dependence and ownership is based on a play by Fassbinder. The lavishly furnished apartment, the film's only setting, illustrates excess and decadence as well as a suffocating tightness. Kurt Raab, who was responsible for the equipment, worked closely as an actor and assistant director on Fassbinder's theatre and film works for ten years.