Fassbinder’s death at 37 was a blow but not a shock, given his untenable pace and lifestyle. (A policeman present at his death scene remarked, “Even Fassbinder’s just a man.”) However, it capped a run of inspiration the likes of which may never be repeated. For some it marked the end of the German New Wave, a sad affirmation that even creativity can’t trump mortality. His epitaph is this documentary, which wrapped the day he died. Featuring commentary by Brad Davis, Jeanne Moreau, and Franco Nero—the stars of his final film, Querelle—The Wizard of Babylon proffers a glimpse into the visionary vortex that was Rainer Werner Fassbinder, with interview footage shot just 10 hours before his passing.