Thursday Happenings

Magna Opera
Rainer Werner Fassbinder's television series Berlin Alexanderplatz is widely considered his finest work. Adapted from Alfred Döblin's Joycean novel, it's a dazzling and confounding portrayal of crime and punishment in 1920s Berlin. Not for the faint of heart. Or the short on time. The German Cultural Institute recently restored the 15 1/2 hour-long miniseries, and ICA screens the whole thing, in four installments. Institute of Contemporary Art, South Boston, through Sunday. More information. (RS)

Movies
Speaking of Fassbinder, Fassbinder's frequent leading lady, Hanna Schygulla, stars in the brand-new The Edge of Heaven, which opens the Boston Turkish Film Festival tonight at the MFA. Schygulla stars as a German woman whose daughter follows another woman to Turkey. And more--the Guardian writes, "And it is about the gulf between the first- and second-generation Turkish-Germans, conflicted about their identity and their relation with the old country, itself conflicted as it prepares to join the European Union." Remis Auditorium, 7:30 pm, $12.

Nothing to Do With Fassbinder
Fassbinder and anything connected to Fassbinder is heavy stuff. Lighten it up a bit by going to Gene Wilder's book signing at Borders Back Bay, 6:00 pm.

On Donner and Blitzen
No reindeer will be involved, but the foxes will be swift (like David's!) whenBlitzen Trapper play the Middle East Upstairs with Fleet Foxes and Glorytellers (featuring members of Karate). Get ready for an evening of laid-back country-tinged rock that may even involve vests. Dunder Blixem not guaranteed to make an appearance. 18+, $9 advance /$10 doors. (KS)

Rick Sawyer and Kerry Skemp contributed to this post.

The listed events were chosen by the editors of Bostonist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla.