Der Baader-Meinhoff Komplex

Title: Der Baader-Meinhoff Komplex
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: Action, Drama
Language: German (English Subtitles)

Now, I`m not really a guy for serious films. If someone I know invites me to the some obscure theater to see some classic art film, I`d be the type of person who`d make up an excuse so I could stay at home and work my way through the Austin Powers series. To put it simply: I am common. I don`t like dramas, I don`t tend to be very enthusiastic about "films that make you think" and I like humour that one can only find amusing when you are retarded and/or drunk.But this film! What a piece of motion-picture brilliance!

The film is based on the exploits of the Baader-Meinhoff Group or the RAF, a revolutionary group in post-WWII Germany who often made headlines with their extremist actions. The group takes it`s name from two principle members - Ulrike Meihoff and Andreas Baader - who, along with a few other rebelious youths, take on the establishment in an attempt to avoid governmental extortion of the people and another fascist regime. The film portrays them as being fuelled by communist ideologies and humanitarian concerns, fighting for the rights of the little man. Though this may sometimes be a bit historically incorrect - the only reason for them not getting a perfect score.

What the film manages to do, though, is to take you on an emotional roller-coaster ride. The beginning of the film shows images of police brutality on the poor, idealistic youths that immediately establishes your support for the group, but as the film progresses the blatant disregard for common sense and lack of sympathy for governmental officials and police officers (who are continually executed by the group like criminals) one is drawn to resent the actions of the RAF and their idealistic, extremist view of the world. The end of the film leaves one a bit unsure as to who the protagonists of the story really are, which just shows the objective, unbiased approach of the writers and directors - a very refreshing approach to factual dramas.

Another factor which made the film stand out to me, is the use of subtle supporting characters to highlight certain aspects of the film - the runaway teenage boy, who sets the plot in motion at the very start; the Palestinian commander, through whose actions the characters cease to be heros and start slowly becoming scum; and the hostage in a bank, a most unimposing character, who awakens sympathy in one for the government and those that were, at first, the antagonists in the tale.

Being based on a revolutionary terrorist group, one can expect plenty of action and sex in the film, but one soon realises the trivial nature of these aspects as the true core of the story slowly reveals itself: the struggle of every man to be a hero in his own eyes. And in the end one can not but admit: there is always two sides to a story. Ein ganz geiler Film!