Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (The Baader Meinhof Complex) (2008)

I have a weird history with this movie. It came out in Germany last fall and was submitted as their choice for the Best Foreign Film category in the Academy Awards. We read a lot of reviews and articles about the film by German film critics, so I learned a lot about it and had various pre-conceived notions floating around for a year, but I haven't been able to actually see it until now. The Baader Meinhof Complex traces the development of the RAF, an urban terrorist group active in Germany in the 60's and 70's, blending high-tension action with historical investigation.

Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu) is the extreme, charismatic leader of a small number of young rebels, responding to the rise of conservatism and government support of the Vietnam War with department store bombings and other acts of violence. Ulrike Meinhof (Martina Gedeck) is a successful journalist advocating for liberal protesters and exploited peoples in the Middle East. She is convinced by Baader's girlfriend and co-conspirator Gudrun (Johanna Wokalek) to leave her husband and young children so she can join their terrorist group. They assassinate, rob, and bomb people or companies in power, thereby expressing their concerns for Germany's perceived movement towards a new wave of fascism. The film follows years of their exploits coupled with the police efforts to weaken their organization (headed by Bruno Ganz), culminating in the trial the central figures faced.

While this film attempts to paint an interesting, provocative portrait of a controversial terrorist group, it unfortunately falls too often into guns-ablazin' action mode than actual biographical study. The characters had little- to- no development as people, and there are so very many of them that it's really hard to get a grip on anything. The Baader Meinhof Complex could work really well as a thrilling action tale about idealistic rebellion and lots (and lots) of guns, but it attempts to elevate itself into a more respectable historical drama with ambiguous, possibly meaningful dialogue and a very long running time.

There's a phenomenal cast, with several German actors I really dig. I found Moritz Bleitreu, one of the country's main comedic/dramatic actors (you might know him as the boyfriend in Run, Lola, Run) more likable than usual. And I was really glad to see Johanna Wokalek, who had delighted me recently in Barefoot. Sadly Martina Gedeck, after her excellent turn in The Lives of Others, falls a bit flat. And Bruno Ganz (Hitler in The Downfall and the main angel in Wings of Desire) is reliably awesome but appears rarely. Despite this truly impressive cast, it's not enough to save the film's underdeveloped writing and confusing, overreaching story.

Basically, everyone looks really cool, there are some great action sequences and a good premise, and it's never boring. But there's not much substance underneath. I had hoped for more of a character study- perhaps it could have been told from one person's perspective or had more backstory for the RAF members. Instead, I didn't get to know any of these people, and I don't feel particularly educated about this potentially interesting period in German history. I'm honestly a bit surprised this was their entry to the Academy Awards.

3/5