LFF review: The Baader Meinhof Complex

While not quite in the exalted company of Downfall and The Lives Of Others, The Baader Meinhof Complex provides a riveting account of the terrorist organisation’s founding and its first decade or so.

With the cream of German acting talent and director/co-writer channelling John Frankenheimer’s touch for classy 70s-style international thrillers, this is a must.

The film successfully draws all the strings of the 60/70s protest movements together, ensuring that we don’t see the Baader Meinhof as lone gunmen but more part of a greater worldwide struggle. Let’s be clear though, the film does not glorify terrorism nor does it overly criticise the West German government – the failures and the costs of action/inaction of both parties come under the spotlight. Indeed, the only likeable character, somewhat perversely, is the chief of police.

The principal leads – Martina Gedeck as Ulrike Meinhof, Moritz Bleibtreu as Andreas Baader, and Johanna Wokalek as Gudrun Ensslin – are all superb, ably backed by an arguably more glittering support cast and cameos.

The film is action-packed, intelligent and revealing. That the film has so much resonance for a modern audience simply highlights the similarities between the 70s and the Noughties: for Nixon, read George W; for US imperialism, read, er, US imperialism…

Highly recommended.
Score: 8.5