Lush and quietly devestating, Ali:Fear Eats The Soul is a scathing and pessimistic look at 70s German society and the inherent racism that lies within it. The story follows Emmi (Brigitte Mira) who falls in love with an Arab foreign worker 20 years her junior, Ali (El Hedi ben Salem). He is plenty in muscles but not in words, they intend to forge a new life together, however their passion cools with their own tepid insecurity and hostile racism from family, friends, and co-workers. The film acts more as a play, with acts bookended with a series of tableauxs. However the cinematography and colours like the film it was inspired by (All That Heaven Allow's) manages to stir audiences.
