Impressive German film about the Red Army Faction during the 60s and 70s, focusing on several key members – the dashing, psychotic Baader; chardonnay socialist/columnist-turned-revolutionary Meinhoff (imagine Kristen Williamson going all Patty Hearst); Baader’s married girlfriend (a terrific, star making portrayal). Like Downfall this doesn’t throw in hokey scenes making the characters more or less sympathetic full of phoney moralising and melodrama – it simply says “this is who they are and what they did”. Since they did so many exciting things – rob banks, blow up army bases, assassinate politicians and judges – it’s a gripping saga. It doesn’t really personalise any of their victims, or the investigating officers except Bruno Ganz, but I they probably didn’t have time.
Excellently directed with decent performances, it gives a real sense of West Germany during a crazy time – young people rebelling to the nth degree against a system they oppose (the rationale: what morality can the creators of Auschwitz impose?). The German response to terrorism doesn’t seem very effective: they’re always giving in to prisoner’s demands (they smuggle guns into cells), trying to reconcile, having poor security.
The cast have to make up the sexiest terrorists in recent memory – the women are mostly hot (though the actor playing Meinhoff looked like Chris Lilley in a wig), wearing these great boots, short skirts and long hair; loved that scene in the bath, plus the nude sunbathing at the Jordanian terrorist camp. I suppose that’s glamorisation in a way but the film makes it clear they are a bloodthirsty bunch who killed a lot of innocent people. Terrific movie. My main gripe – the lack of a card which explains what happened to the RAF following the end of the 70s.
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