Fox and His Friends is a 1975 German film directed, written and starring Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The film follows Franz "Fox" Biberkopf, a working-class gay man who wins the lottery and becomes involved with a group of wealthy art dealers. He falls in love with Eugen, one of the dealers, but his newfound wealth comes at a cost as he is taken advantage of financially and emotionally by his new upper-class friends.
As Fox struggles to navigate the snobbish world of the art dealers, he begins to distance himself from his friends and Eugen, who is hiding a secret from him. Fox's attempts to fit into this new world ultimately lead to his downfall, as his lack of education and sophistication make him vulnerable to exploitation. He is eventually left alone, penniless, and betrayed by those he thought he could trust.
The film addresses themes of class struggle, homophobia, and the corrupting influence of money. It is a melancholic reflection on the human condition, showcasing how difficult it can be for individuals to escape their socio-economic background and how they may be judged and mistreated because of it. Fox and His Friends is considered one of Fassbinder's most personal and vulnerable films, drawing from his own experiences growing up in working-class Germany.
