Terror Chic
by James Roland
Remember when terrorism was cool? No?
Then check out The Baader Meinhof Complex, a fascinating, eye-opening, and sometimes disturbing look at the formation of the Red Army Faction (RAF), the terrorist group that reached its peak in the 1970s.
Most historical dramas strive for factual accuracy over good storytelling, trying to cram every known fact into the screenplay with no regard for building nuanced, empathetic characters (see Ray or Munich for examples of this).
While The Baader Meinhof Complex eventually falls into that trap, the first hour and a half is powerful and emotionally engaging. The film follows journalist Ulrike Meinhof (Martina Gedeck) as her coverage of the tumultuous German political scene leads to her obsession with the growing terrorist group.
The hot-blooded Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu) leads the terrorists. His passion and anger drive the group to action but also send them headlong into blind alleys (sometimes literally). Gudrun Ensslin (Johanna Wokalek), his lover and partner, tempers him as the voice of sinister reason. Where Baader is wild and impetuous, Ensslin is calm and calculated. The two function in fascinating counterpoint, sharing a passion so strong they bomb government buildings and shoot soldiers to advance their cause.
The film finds a great balance between the facts and character development. The events unfold mostly as seen through the eyes of Meinhof, who’s instantly drawn to the radical duo but resists their anarchic tendencies. An early scene where she observes a rally and slowly, as if in a trance, picks up a brick as if to bash in a police officer’s head is absolutely chilling.
Photo: Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu) and Gudrun Ensslin (Johanna Wokalek)
Eventually, Baader’s overwhelming fury and Ensslin’s consuming rhetoric break down Meinhof’s moral constructs. At first she helps from the shadows but eventually joins the group, by literally jumping through a window during a prison escape.
From there, history supplies all the spoilers. The group rises to power and falls from power.
It’s a very simple story, but it supplies plenty of surprises along the way.
The RAF had connections to international terrorists groups, swapping money and favors in a joint effort to fight the fascist/perceived fascist regimes in their respective countries. Scenes where the hip, sexy German terrorists sunbathe nude at a guerrilla warfare training facility in the Jordan desert are sickly hilarious.
Photo: The arrest of Holger Meins (Stipe Erceg)
It was a world so different from current times that it almost feels like a fantasy, and the film captures that vibe perfectly.
This is partly due to the acting, which is stunningly convincing in every character. When the story begins, Baader, Ensslin, and Meinhof range in age from 20 to 33. The film spans over a decade and the characters evolve accordingly. Disillusionment, fatigue, and, in the case of Meinhof, possible psychosis set in after ten years of violence. In the final scenes the audience really feels as if it’s been through ten years of history with these characters.
Eventually, the core members of the RAF are captured and spend the last 40 minutes of the film in prison. Here the story begins to break down. Where before the film focused on Meinhof’s evolution from mother and journalist to terrorist and prisoner, her character abruptly leaves the story in its final act. This is a historical event that couldn’t be changed, but it seems as if the movie plods on a half-hour past its natural ending. The final scenes revolve around the next generation of RAF members and how its decaying scruples lead to more and more civilian casualties. And while this is interesting history, it doesn’t make for the best interpersonal story.
Photo: Ulrike Meinhof at the blockade of the Springer building.
Despite an ending that feels like a checklist of interesting RAF facts, the film as a whole captures an intense period in world history through the unique eyes of Ulrike Meinhof, daring the audience to delve into the mind of a terrorist and question the societal rhetoric that holds its country together.
With its nostalgic portrayal of a “Golden Age of Terrorism” and a September 11th wide release date in America, The Baader Meinhof Complex is sure to offend some of its audience. But no matter your personal beliefs, everyone should see this fascinating look at a young, hip, and very Western era of modern terrorism
The Baader Meinhof Complex is now playing in New York.
Opens wide on September 11th.
Director: Uli Edel
Starring: Martina Gedeck, Moritz Bleibtreu, Johanna Wokalek
All Photography (c) 2008 Constantin Film Verleih GmbH
