Controversial German thriller Der Fan is getting a brand new 4K restoration courtesy of Fun City Editions, as well as its first ever US theatrical release at NYC's Metrograph later this month on August 28, 29 and 30.
While never formally banned, late West German provocateur Eckhart Schmidt's film has faced censorship that held it back from much of any kind of release Stateside outside of a long out-of-print 2015 Blu-ray, further fuelling Der Fan‘s cult status over the years.
A psychosexual thriller from the POV of an alienated teenage girl that uses body horror and fanaticism to confront Germany's fascination with Hitler and the rise and fall of fascism (themes that are, sadly timely once again) Der Fan stars Désirée Nosbusch as Simone, a high school girl obsessed with the German New Wave pop star R, played by real-life band Rheingold frontman Bodo Staiger. Simone floats through life in a daze, consumed by her love for R and spending her days writing fan letters and fantasizing about meeting him—a dream she turns into a bittersweet reality.
Check out the new restoration trailer below:
Due to Nosbusch's young age 16 at the time of filming, Der Fan has garnered much backlash over the years, but is nonetheless a fascinating piece of cinema that has gone on to become a cult classic in small circles of film lovers.
Now, being presented with its original stereo soundtrack for the first time since its initial ’82 German theatrical play, Der Fan gets a new lease of life that will surely open the door to new reappraisal.
Those in NYC can grab tickets for Der Fan here, and stay tuned for more on the physical media release as we get it.
