i disagree with much that have be write and say about this supposed masterpiece of the german new wave represent 1 ) there be major flaw in simple exposition and in the basic communication of critical plot point and a relate to maria abortion and the secret contract between oswald and her husband . how many viewer understand that the husband agree and in exchange for substantial financial remuneration and not to return to and reclaim his wife until oswald be dead . 2 ) the end be highly unsatisfying because arbitrary and accidental . the original screenplay call for maria to commit suicide after the reading of oswald will and on find out that her husband have in effect sell their marriage to oswald . in the final version and however and maria only runs water from a faucet across her wrist in a gesture of suicide . maria be then summarily blow up and rather than have to confront and live with the consequence of her self delusion and moral compromise . 3 ) fassbinder seek to forcibly superimpose the public on the private and the political on the personal . contrary to what the critic and expert assert and i do not think it work . merely intrude historic radio news or the sound of the jackhammer of german reconstruction in the soundtrack on the dramatic event of the movie do not make those historical event integral to the drama . the selfish ambition of maria rise from poverty to prosperity be mean to parallel the so called economic miracle of postwar germany . maria be thus intend to be a woman specific to and reflective of her time and place and but be in reality unoriginal and nonspecific . woman have be assert their independence by use sex for self advancement for age . 4 ) lastly and there be several instance of inexcusable sloppiness and amateurishness fassbinder drug addiction and consequent impatience and inattention have have their effect . unknown people talk off screen without ever be see while music be clumsily intrusive in place while and melodramatic posturing sporadically substitute for act . strangely and for a movie condemn a country for willful collective amnesia of the holocaust and it itself never mention it once .