Berlin Alexanderplatz

I managed to stick with the whole 15 hours, mainly because of some incredible characters (Biberkopf himself and the chilling Reinhold), some great if theatrical acting and an enthralling story unfolding in the maelstrom that was Berlin in the late 20's. I just about kept up with the rapid changes of style and devices that gave the film a sort of Ken Russell meets James Joyce feel. However, save yourself 2 hours or so and skip the epilogue, which was a self-indulgent turn-off, Fassbinder's presumably, rather than the novelist's. If that's what the film was actually about to Fassbinder, why wasn't the epilogue the film he made? Take the dog for a walk instead and clear your head after 15 hours of occasionally slow but never boring watching.