Category | Arts & Living

Movie review: Baader Meinhof Complex

Published on October 26, 2009 by Brett Frank

Haves and Have-nots.  Rich and Poor.  Facists and Communists.  Young and Old.  “The Baader Meinhof Complex,” directed by Uli Edel and nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in this year’s Oscars is a glance into the recent past, (the late 1960s and early 1970s) and warns about the dangers of miscommunication and unwarranted violence in the political arena as well as the idolization of political figures because they are never what they appear to be.  Let’s just say that this is no kiddie ride of a film and it definitely earns an ‘R’ rating.

Before someone watches this film, an understanding of Germany’s history will help clear up any confusion about the plot.  Germany, after being carved up and divided into Russian and American controlled sections, was to say the least in political upheaval.  Young people hated the old ways of government and the older generation hated the “free-love” and anarchist tendencies of the younger.

The (RAF) Red Army Faction, was a group founded by Ulrike Meinhof, a journalist and Andreas Baader, a high school drop-out and car thief/enthusiast.  Originally intended to be a somewhat peaceful and outspoken group of young people, the RAF quickly became militant and unorganized and killed many important figures in Germany’s government as well as its civilians.  Their aggressions instigated incidences such as the 1972 Munich Massacre in which Jewish athletes were murdered by Arab terrorists at the Olympic Games.

The film opens on a nude beach and the viewer meets Ulrike Meinhof, (Martina Gedeck) a loving mother of two and journalist.  Immediately we relate to Ulrike and she is by far the most easily accessible character for the average viewer. Edel uses this scene to establish the free-love and hippie lifestyle of the early RAF members and their original goal of changing politics through their voices as opposed to violence.  We’re soon after taken to a protest by college students in Munich where fascist policemen begin to beat and attack protestors, resulting in the death of one student who tries to escape.

As the film progresses we see how the RAF begins to organize itself.  We see more and more protestors assassinated and the RAF begins to retaliate by rioting, burning stores and breaking windows.  This is the first time we see Ulrike begin any destructive behavior; beforehand she was a journalist who was a conscientious objector.  The RAF then begins to act like the young, adolescent people that they are and kill and have sex at random.

As you watch this film, you begin to forget you’re watching a foreign film and that you’re reading subtitles because of the well-scripted dialogue as well as the fast paced and well calculated editing.  You may walk out of the theater feeling like you’ve learned a little German as well.  On the other hand, some might forget they’re reading subtitles (or thinking at all) because all they will notice on screen is the gratuitous nudity and sex as well as the Bonnie and Clyde, hit-and-run style violence throughout.  This can be good or bad to some, but keep in mind who you take with you to this movie. (Grandma might get a little ticked.)  Audiences will either hate or love this film and most will squirm in their seats at some point due to the politics, the violence or the sex.

Overall, this film is uncomfortable.  It is well edited, well scripted and a great documentary/drama, but it’s not an easy film to watch.  Personally, sometimes the film seems to glorify the killings of innocent people as well as powerful government officials, but near the end the viewer sees the disillusionment of the RAF members in that their attacks are random.

However, the message of the film is clear: if we raise people up to a god-like status such as Hitler or the RAF members, we will most certainly be disappointed.  We are reminded in this film that everybody is human and that we all make mistakes.  This film isn’t necessarily a must go for all, but it is a noteworthy film due to its global recognition and it’s nomination for an Oscar.