Written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, a transgender woman tries to salvage something from the wreckage love has made of her life by confronting her anguished past, hoping to find ultimate acceptance among former acquaintances and herself. Starring: Volker Spengler, Ingrid Caven, Gottfried John, Elisabeth Trissenaar, Eva Mattes and Günther Kaufmann.

Creating a film out of such deep, shattering pain and exploring that sorrow by following a complicated journey encountering unusual, eccentric characters is certainly not an easy thing to do but Rainer Werner Fassbinder is almost inexplicably good at it. Arguably because of the intense dedication Fassbinder had to his films and curating every element of them. Added to the fact that his films typically came from a deeply personal place. You can undoubtedly feel that with In a Year of 13 Moons, it’s drowning in agony and suffering.

There’s no part of In a Year of 13 Moons that relaxes the harsh atmosphere, it can be genuinely disturbing with some violent imagery, and it can also be extremely aggressive. There’s a clear note to the film that’s abrasive, it’s intentional and can be difficult to watch. Though anyone who’s seen any of Fassbinder’s films will not be surprised to discover its brutal nature. He had a penchant for exploring life’s cruelties and how the world likes to kick you when you’re down, tearing apart your vulnerabilities.

Which brings you to the leading character of Elvira (Volker Spengler) who is complicated to say the least. While In a Year of 13 Moons may explore a fair share of her troubles, it feels like to truly unpack every parcel of pain that she carries would take a lot longer than two hours. Yet, Fassbinder gives the audience plenty to understand her suffering and its complexities. Of course, a lot of credit also has to go to the performance from Volker Spengler. The honesty and brokenness that Spengler brings to this character is impressive. The incensed conflict within her and trying to reconcile between being Elvira and Erwin is intricate and like an unsolvable, punishing puzzle.

The quality of Fassbinder’s direction then feeds into that in an unusual way. There’s something to the way that In a Year of 13 Moons moves that constantly feels as though it’s heading into absurdist territory but really all you find is being consistently slapped in the face with an ugly reality. There’s a backbone of hatred and prejudice which helps to fuel the depressed atmosphere. Fassbinder creates an interesting mix of Elvira’s hostility towards herself, as well as the hostility she faces from those around her.

In a Year of 13 Moons is brutally depressive, it was never going to appeal to the masses, this is one for the true film fans who can appreciate the artistry and the unabashed pain. It can take a few strange tangents, run a little long and includes some disturbing imagery which slightly crosses the line but it’s easy to admire Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s commitment to portraying such true and soul-destroying pain. Something that’s brought to life expertly by Volker Spengler with a strong ensemble cast behind him.

Verdict: ✯✯✯½ | 7/10

Releasing for the first time on DVD & Blu-ray March 24