VolkerSchlöndorfftransposesBertoltBrecht’slate-expressionistworktolatter-day1969.PoetandanarchistBaallivesinanatticandreadshispoemstocabdrivers.Atfirstfetedandlaterrejectedbybourgeoissociety,Baalroamsthroughforestsandalongmotorways,greedyforschnapps,cigarettes,womenandmen:‘Youhavetoletoutthebeast,lethimoutintothesunlight.’Afterimpregnatingayoungactresshesooncomestoregardherasamillstoneroundhisneck.Hestabsafriendtodeathanddiesalone.‘Youareuseless,mangyandwild,youbeast,youcrawlthroughthelowestboughsofthetree.’
Thefilmtakesyouthfulimpetuousnessandhatredofoppressionasitssubjectandalsopondersthecultofgeniusandsexualmorals.RainerWernerFassbindersimultaneouslyplaysbothBaalandhimselfandissurroundedbymanyactorswhowerelatertoperforminhisownfilms.AfterthefilmwasbroadcastonWestGermantelevision,Brecht’swidowHeleneWeigelprohibitedanyfurtherscreenings,arguingthatthesocialcircumstancesengenderingBaal’srebelliousnesshadnotbeenadequatelyexplained.