The Baader Meinhof Complex - Session Times And Movie Reviews

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The Baader Meinhof Complex

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The radicalised children of the Nazi generation led by Andreas Baader, Ulrike Meinhof and Gudrun Ensslin are fighting a violent war against what they perceive as the new face of fascism: American imperialism supported by the German establishment, many of whom have a Nazi past. Their aim is to create a more human society but by employing inhuman means they not only spread terror and bloodshed, they also lose their own humanity. The man who understands them is also their hunter: the head of the German police force, Horst Herold.

Rated:	[ MA ] Strong violence, coarse language and nudity
Cinema release:	7 May 2009
Director:	Uli Idel
Running time:	149 mins
Stars:	Moritz Bleibtreu, Martina Gedeck, Johanna Wokalek, Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Nadja Uhl,
Links:	Official Site IMDb Rotten Tomatoes

What we say

Finely crafted European cinema

Yury Glikin, MovieFix
4 star rating

Based on real-life events, "The Baader Meinhof Complex" tells the story of the Red Army Faction (RAF), a group of young German men and women who were responsible for multiple bombings and murders in the 1960s and '70s, in protest of the imperialism of the United States and West Germany's willingness to go along with it.

As the film begins in 1967, we are introduced to the three main protagonists: Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu), Ulrike Meinhof (Martina Gedeck) and Gudrun Ensslin (Johanna Wokalek). Initially they're quite benign (yet vociferous) in their condemnation of what they perceive to be West Germany's capitulation to the American war and imperialistic machine.

As their rhetoric becomes more radical, the violence escalates and, over the next several years, the RAF wreaks havoc across West Germany and Europe, causing multiple deaths and destruction in a series of brazen attacks. As their cause starts to (literally and metaphorically) be hijacked from them, the story is put on a crash course to an inevitable and bloody resolution.

The "Baader Meinhof Complex" works very well on a combination of a remarkable true story and an excellent cast, combing some of Germany's finest thespian talent. Moritz Bleibtreu, who starred in "Run Lola Run", is great as the brooding and violent Baader, and is offset nicely by a more restrained Martina Gedeck, whose rapid descent from a simple activist into an RAF rebel is both fascinating to watch and, almost, unexpected.

One of the cleverest elements of the film are the scenes of the only man who seemingly understands the terrorists, yet who is also trying to capture them: the German police chief, Horst Herold (Bruno Ganz). They never meet, yet Ganz (who was spellbinding as Adolf Hitler in "Downfall", acted by the same starring trio as this film), has the best introspection into the methods and madness of the RAF.

"The Baader Meinhof Complex" will most likely leave the viewer with many questions unanswered; for example, were the RAF members revolutionaries or simply criminals? It is, nonetheless, compulsively watchable, even at its hefty running time of 2.5 hours, as it's a terrific example of finely crafted European cinema.

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What you say

Go and see this movie!

After seeing this film three times, I cannot wait for the DVD. It is action packed from the first minute. Although the characters aren't exactly peace-loving, you can identify with them and feel their emotions, however the internal conflict of feeling for the gang members as humans against observing their murderous actions was intense, exciting, and scary all at once.

Well worth the effort, go and support this film before it vanished from the big screen!

John Boxall
Brisbane, QLD
21 May 2009

Am I the only one to watch this movie?

Gudrun quotes Mao as saying that when the enemy fights back then you know there is a line between the two sides. This film proves there is no line between fighting forces. For Baader Meinhof swop Bin laden & Co. The terrorism of the 70's is back centre stage. The group starting with objections to Vietnam soon mirrors that escalation to violence, the argument between capitalism and communism moves quickly to the argument between the Palestinian or Arabs and the Israeli's. As Lenin once said capitalism must move to socialism as socialism moves to capitalism to survive. Baader also says in this fine film says there is no difference between the gun and sex, this is so true in a world where Religious groups force rigidity on women to fuel their numbers, as the proliferation of guns fuels violence. Will anyone go to see this movie? If you care about the world then yes. If you are considering supporting violence do- it may make you consider a different path. Don't mirror your enemy leave them alone. As the only person in the cinema on the night- the film has resonance for today and is timely in being released. Do support the film but please do not agree with the violence.

Heather McIlwain
Sydney, NSW
8 May 2009