Comparing The Marriage Of Maria Braun And The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner

Similar Titles – A Comparison All forms of storytelling – written word, recorded image, narrative or non-narrative – regardless of plot, are made up of the same puzzle pieces; only arranged differently. When broken down to basic pieces, it is interesting to examine how some films that appear entirely unrelated actually share much in common. The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979 Fassbinder) and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962 Richardson), are two films from different New Waves in separate countries that seem very dissimilar at both first glance and at a deep plot analysis; but at a level of attention to traits, share a few marked similarities. Both films reflect grim environments, along with the consequences of a crime. The protagonists
The protagonist of one is a barely married woman, and the other a young man. She uses her wits (though it is perceived as using only her sexuality) to gain what she wants for herself and her husband, while he uses his strength to gain minor respite from his incarceration (and also chooses not to use it in order to express independence). She is characterized through mental strength and physical allure; he is characterized through physical strength and mental stagnation. When broken down to brass tacks, each story comes down to the same basic ideas of how, when faced with a large problem, does one use what they have to attain what they want how do their express their
The protagonist Colin Smith, a young man living with poor working class family, commits a robbery of a bakery and is sent to a juvenile detention center in consequence. While there, he showcases his physical endurance for long distance running, and is eventually allowed to go on long solo runs around the outskirts of the compound – which he uses as a form of mental escape from his situation. By the end of the film, in an environment with next to no independence, Colin expresses his using the only asset he has – long distance running. He makes a show of deliberately losing the race the Governor had been allowing him the freedom to train for, claiming his talent as belonging to him in an act of defiance, knowing that doing so will make his life more difficult. His privileges are taken away for this, but he is contented in the final