MovieChat Forums > Die Ehe der Maria Braun (1979) Discussion > Maria and Bill (spoilers)

Maria and Bill (spoilers)

posted 14 years ago by madlymusing
4 replies | jump to latest

I've been writing an essay on this film, and when I was doing my research I picked up the book "1001 movies you must see before you die" (the one with the still from "Psycho" on the front. I was glad that "Maria Braun" had been included, but I had a few issues with the review, and was wondering if I was just way off in terms of plot details, or whether the author was.

The review says "... [Maria is] attacked by an American soldier who tries to rape her, she accidentally kills him during the struggle, which happens on the very night her husband returns."

I got the (very strong) impression that Maria and Bill were in a relationship, and she accidentally killed him to break up the struggle between him and Hermann?

The other point was regarding Hermann after he was released from jail. "... although liberated, Hermann feels uncomfortable in her presence. He leaves for South America to make his fortune, and finally comes back near the end of the film. But Maria's fate again proves to be cruel as, on the night of their reconciliation, a gas line blows up and kills them both."

Um? I thought that Hermann left overseas because Oswald bribed him, not because he felt uncomfortable with Maria. And she blew up the gas line, after the reading of the will when she found out about the deal!

... or have I got it all wrong? I just feel like this particular reviewer saw a completely different film to the one I did. Thoughts?

"I'm stuck in an ethical pickle."

[–] griZled 14 years ago

Yeah, I think it was made pretty clear that Maria was very fond of the American soldier, and it didn't seem like rape to me either.

The other part is kind of amiguous...
I got the impression that the gas line was left on accidentally, but it could go either way.

Although I thought Hermann went to Canada, not South America... I think that review is a little off.

[–] mathew5000 12 years ago

Maybe the author had seen the movie many years before and was relying on memory?

Maria and Bill were sleeping together, definitely not rape.

South America was never mentioned; Hermann says he will go to Canada or Australia, and dialogue at the end indicates it had been Canada. As for not mentioning that Oswald bribed Hermann, I think it would be too much of a spoiler to mention that in a review.

[–] BayouMoses 11 years ago

It's amazing how often reviews are wrong about basic facts...proof of how unreliable our memories can be.

[–] birthdaynoodle 10 years ago

You're absolutely right: the American soldier is a nice fellow to Maria Braun, not a rapist; and her husband leaves to Canada, not South America.

The author of that flawed review in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die is Dana Duma. According to the book, she "teaches history at Hyperion University and the National University of Cinema and Theatre in Bucharest. She has written the books Self-Portraits of the Movie, Gopo, and many articles for film and cultural periodicals." She should have rewatched the film before writing about it, but I guess she didn't do her homework.

I have the 2005 edition of the book (with Jack Nicholson in The Shining on the cover) and I actually like it. I'm sure there could be other mistakes, but I think the majority of the articles are quite solid. Duma is only one of over fifty film critics and historians who participate in the recommendations. I don't agree with all 1001 of them, but it's been a very useful guide in general.