I have been a Franco Nero fan for a few years now and have heard good things about this movie from Vincent Gallo.
My question is: should I watch this first or does someone have a better introductory film to Fassbinder?
Also, how graphic is it? I'm not sure I want to watch something where a man is penetrated on screen.
No perhaps because it was one of his last films, and is more of a theatrical character study than a plot-oriented film. "Marriage of Maria Braun" is Fassbinder's most famous film, perhaps because it more perfectly fits the latter description of a "movie" that is accessible to Western audiences. Fassbinder's "masterpiece" is considered to be "Berlin Alexanderplatz" which is over 15 hours long.
"Querelle", though overtly dealing with the gay themes of loyalty/betrayal, jealousy, power/control, etc. is not sexually explicit or violent. There is a brief scene where he murders a fellow sailor, and is (willingly) raped (while paritally clothed) by a fake cop, then by a black bartender (for losing a dice game), but the "feel" of the film is not comprised of overt physical action, but on mood, atmosphere and obtuse dialog. In fact, 90 percent of the film takes place inside a bar. In this film, Franco Nero plays Querelle's bisexual "brother", who fights/loves him while he (Nero) has a romantic relationship with bar hostess Jeanne Moreau (who is the wife of the black bartender).
As you know Fassbinder created over 40 films in his brief career. Your selection will depend on which are easily available (in English dub/subtitle), as some are not yet available or if they are, they are expensive.
I would certainly not recommend this as a starting point for Fassbinder; however, it is certainly worth watching at some point.
I first saw 'The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant', which I found to be a good introduction. 'The Marriage of Maria Braun' is definetly another good one, as well as 'Fox and His Friends'.
-----------
"Without dreams we would be cows in a field, and i don't want to live like that"
Actually Franco Nero plays Lt. Seblon who is Querlle's commanding officer and who is also fixated on Querelle. Hanno Poschl plays Querelle's brother as well as Gil the dock worker/murderer who Querelle "befriends".
shareFranco Nero plays an officer and Nono *beep* Querelle before the cop. But agree, it's unusual movie for Fassbinder, but my personal favorite.
share"Querelle", though overtly dealing with the gay themes of loyalty/betrayal, jealousy, power/control, etc. is not sexually explicit or violent. There is a brief scene where he murders a fellow sailor, and is (willingly) raped (while paritally clothed) by a fake cop, then by a black bartender (for losing a dice game), but the "feel" of the film is not comprised of overt physical action, but on mood, atmosphere and obtuse dialog. In fact, 90 percent of the film takes place inside a bar. In this film, Franco Nero plays Querelle's bisexual "brother", who fights/loves him while he (Nero) has a romantic relationship with bar hostess Jeanne Moreau (who is the wife of the black bartender).
I would concur with the others on this thread that this isn't the place to start with Fassbinder. While it's significant that Querelle was his last film, it's not a particularly good film, in fact, it's my least favorite Fassbinder film, and I've watched it twice.
I actually started with Berlin Alexanderplatz when it was on PBS. I saw it over 3 1/2 months.
I would recommend Fox and His Friends, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, The Marriage of Maria Braun, or, if you're really adventurous, In a Year of 13 Moons. Moons, along with Berlin, are my favorite films of Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
Querelle is just not a very good film.
As most users have mentioned already, 'Querelle' might not be the best introduction to Fassbinder's world because it's his last film, because is not amongst his better works and because it have some surreal elements that aren't present in most of his previous films.
However you can see several amazing sequences in 'Querelle' that may compel you to watch more films from one of the most original filmmakers of XX century.
I'll suggest you to start with his most renowned films such as 'Lola', 'Lili Marleen', 'The Marriage of Maria Braun', or his masterwork "Berlin Alexanderplatz". Either that or you could start by watching his earlier films such as 'Love is Colder Than Death', 'Rio das Mortes' or the excellent 'The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant'. Just to name a few.
I agree with the majority here; Querelle is one Fassbinder's most difficult films, and one that a lot of even his most ardent admirers take issue with.
As for a better introduction; it's all subjective, but for me, The Merchant of Four Seasons, Fear Eats the Soul or Fox and his Friends might be better.
N.B. I never knew Vincent Gallo was a fan of Querelle. That's pretty cool.