{{short description|1976 film}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox film | name = Shadow of Angels | image = | caption = | director = Daniel Schmid | producer = Michael Fengler | screenplay = Daniel Schmid<br>Rainer Werner Fassbinder | based_on = ''Der Müll, die Stadt und der Tod'' <br> by Rainer Werner Fassbinder | starring = Ingrid Caven | music = | cinematography = Renato Berta | editing = Ila von Hasperg | distributor = | released = {{film date|1976|1|31|df=yes}} | runtime = 101 minutes | country = Switzerland | language = German }} '''''Shadow of Angels''''' (German: '''''Schatten der Engel''''') is a 1976 Swiss drama film directed by Daniel Schmid and written by Schmid and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Adapted from Fassbinder's play ''Der Müll, die Stadt und der Tod'', the film stars Ingrid Caven and was screened in competition at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Schatten der Engel |url=https://www.filmdienst.de/film/details/46627/schatten-der-engel |access-date=21 March 2026 |website=Filmdienst |language=de}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
== Synopsis == The film tells the story of a prostitute who lives with her pimp until she meets a man who advises her not to speak and pays for her silence. From then on, she listens to powerful men and later becomes rich and powerful herself, but can no longer endure her situation. She then begins searching for the person who can understand her story and kill her.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Schatten der Engel |url=https://www.swissfilms.ch/de/movie/schatten-der-engel/2fb0b978f00a40f19379bb937da04611 |access-date=21 March 2026 |website=Swiss Films |language=de}}</ref>
==Cast== The cast includes:<ref name=":1" /> * Ingrid Caven as Lily Brest * Rainer Werner Fassbinder as Raoul * Klaus Löwitsch as Jude * Annemarie Düringer as Frau Müller * Adrian Hoven as Herr Müller
== Production == ''Shadow of Angels'' was adapted from Rainer Werner Fassbinder's play ''Der Müll, die Stadt und der Tod''. Fassbinder had originally tried to film the play himself, but the project failed to secure financing. Daniel Schmid then directed the adaptation. The source play sparked debate over alleged antisemitic tendencies. It was Schmid's first film based on a screenplay by another writer.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Schatten der Engel {{!}} filmportal.de |url=https://www.filmportal.de/film/schatten-der-engel_fb723582397c4bb9a75bc86f6203bf46 |access-date=21 March 2026 |website=filmportal.de |language=de}}</ref>
== Festival screenings == The film premiered in 1976 and had festival screenings including an in-competition screening at the Festival international du film de Cannes in 1976, the Festival International du film de La Rochelle in 1994, the 37th Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist in 2007, the 64th Festival del film Locarno in 2011, the 30th Filmfest München in 2012, the 24th Ankara International Film Festival in 2013, the 50th Solothurner Filmtage in 2015, and the 35th FID Festival international de cinéma Marseille in 2024.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=SCHATTEN DER ENGEL |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/schatten-der-engel/ |access-date=21 March 2026 |website=Festival de Cannes}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|id=0075169|title=Shadow of Angels}}
Category:1976 films Category:1976 drama films Category:1976 German-language films Category:Films directed by Daniel Schmid Category:Films produced by Michael Fengler Category:Films set in Frankfurt Category:Swiss films based on plays Category:Films à clef Category:Swiss drama films Category:Films based on works by Rainer Werner Fassbinder