Fassbinder's prominence, his creative non-conformity, and artistic radicalism led to now legendary films, television series and theatrical plays. Works such as Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, The Marriage of Maria Braun, Eight Hours Don't Make a Day, Berlin Alexanderplatz and Querelle have etched themselves into our collective visual memory. He was exceedingly prolific in his short life, writing, directing or shooting some forty-five feature films and twenty-five plays. Fassbinder was an artist who succeeded in synthesizing radical subjectivity and social analysis in his works. He lived and demanded intensity. His sometimes unwieldy, critical stance that stood in contrast to often affectionate portrayals of people regardless of their respective social backgrounds was unparalleled and also of deeply respectful consistency. Often viewed controversially during his lifetime, Fassbinder's work has lost none of its relevance, intensity, and charisma to this day.

RAINER WERNER FASSBINDER (1945–1982) was a director, film producer, actor, and author. He is regarded as one of the most important exponents of the New German Cinema movement. Like almost no other artist, he shaped and inspired the intellectual image of post-war Germany through his work.