The Baader Meinhof Complex

[pro-bassoonist]

UK official site:
http://www.thebaadermeinhofcomplex.com/

Set to be released in the U.S. on March 30th. Courtesy of MPI. Nominated for Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year (2009).

Film4:

Docudrama from the director of Last Exit To Brooklyn focusing on extreme-left 1970s German terrorists the Red Army Faction aka The Baader-Meinhof.

Pre-9/11 and the 'war on terror', you'd be forgiven for assuming that international terrorism was some kind of super-outré lifestyle choice, with its own clothing line, cool accessories and an endless supply of kidnap victims on tap. The only drawbacks: being banged up for a couple of decades or, at the very worst, being individually picked off by special forces (although if you were a male terrorist you had even more of a fighting chance, as everyone knew they always shot the women first).

At least, that's the impression you might take away from The Baader Meinhof Complex, during an exchange between a pair of sexy, second generation RAF (Red Army Faction) recruits and a Middle Eastern fixer. "We can invade the US Embassy in Kuwait - or there's the possibility we can hijack a Lufthansa plane," their agent casually suggests, as if he were a maître d' presenting two different restaurant menus to a couple of lovebirds on a dinner date. (In the event, the RAF picks the plane platter with hostages to go.)

So although it would be nuts (given how the central characters wind up) to accuse The Baader Meinhof Complex of glamourising terrorism or playing fast and loose with the facts, the film could certainly be mistaken for trading in radical chic, dealing as it does with a young, hip, disproportionately middle-class organisation, much given to Bonnie And Clyde-style posturing and gunplay.

The filmmakers can also hardly be blamed for the fact that quite a few of Germany's most wanted were ridiculously good looking in real life, and they've cast accordingly. If Germany's film directors were in thrall to US counterculture during the 1970s, so too were its activists - headline stars of their own imagined movies. That young terrorist strutting down the quaking aisles of the Lufthansa jet in 1977 is modelling a very iconic Che t-shirt. While Andreas Baader, co-founder of the RAF, was no stranger to make-up, false eyelashes and tight trousers without underwear, the better to show off that 'arsch'.

The Baader Meinhof Complex Blu-ray pre-order

Pro-B

[Moviefan1203]

I've wanted to see this film for awhile now, and this is excellent news that The Baader Meinhof Complex is getting a North American Blu-ray release. Now I won't have to import the Australian release.

[Reboscale]

Just learned what the "Baader-Meinhof complex" was yesturday, no joke. Now I see this film on Bluray.com... IRONY

[repete66211]

This has been on disc in Europe for a while now. I had it in the saved section of my Netflix queue for months as well. Then I saw it was playing at a local arthouse theater, so I dragged the g/f out to see it. It's a good movie. Although it is entertaining, I think the producers were more concerned with accuracy and information than with the traditional story arc. I say this not as a criticism, but as a compliment. I only wish more people who decide to make a "based on a true story" movie would do the same.

[katharsis]

I've imported the German Blu-ray as soon as it was released.
It truly is a great film that gives lots of insides about what was going on in that time period. I once did a thesis back in school about the RAF and have done extensive research at the time. Sure a few facts have been moved around, but I think it just gives the movie a better pace and I can live with that. Outstanding performances by all actors/actresses.
The only problem I see here is that in the last third of the movie they move ahead so fast, that anyone not familiar with the topic at all might get lost.
There is a lot of new characters (from the second and third generation) that suddenly appear on screen for a few minutes and are never talked about again after.

They had an Art House showing about 2 months ago over here and I dragged a few friends into the movie. They enjoyed it for what it was, but without any knowledge were kind of lost. We had a lot of talks after watching it which cleared up a few things.

I can also highly recommend Stefan Aust's book - Baader-Meinhof: The Inside Story of the R.A.F.

[pro-bassoonist]

update:

Upped to a double (2BD) set.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-B...-Blu-ray/8875/

Pro-B

[TylerDurden]

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Blu-ray)
MPI / 2008 / 144 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: March 30, 2010
List Price: $34.98
This disc has not yet been reviewed. The following information has been provided by the distributor.


Genres: Crime, Drama

Director: Uli Edel

Plot Synopsis: Germany in the 1970s: Murderous bomb attacks, the threat of terrorism and the fear of the enemy inside are rocking the very foundations of the still-fragile German democracy. The radicalized children of the Nazi generation led by Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu), Ulrike Meinhof (Martina Gedeck) and Gudrun Ensslin (Johanna Wokalek) are fighting a violent war against what they perceive as the new face of fascism: American imperialism supported by the German establishment, many of whom have a Nazi past. Their aim is to create a more human society, but by employing inhuman means they not only spread terror and bloodshed, they also lose their own humanity. The man who understands them is also their hunter: the head of the German police force Horst Herold (Bruno Ganz). And while he succeeds in his relentless pursuit of the young terrorists, he knows he's only dealing with the tip of the iceberg.



http://bluray.highdefd¡gest.com/3023...ofcomplex.html

[manicsounds]

The DVD has been sitting on my shelf for so long on my to-watch list. I really have to get to this film soon...

[Beta Man]

I've wanted to watch this for quite awhile, but have yet to do so....... I may blind-buy the Blu-ray if the price is right...... but I should really rent it.

[Beta Man]

Went to add it to the Netflix queue, and found that it is available for streaming.... so FYI for those looking to preview before buying.

[fdm]

Watched the UK DVD a month or two ago. Definitely worth checking out.

(Edit: On a (somewhat?) related note, a film with similar theme (one of my favorites):
The Lost Honor Of Katharina Blum.

Currently a Criterion DVD and a Studio Canal Region A,B blu-ray.)

[repete66211]

I saw this in the theater a few months ago. Those with an interest in late 60s/early 70s counter-culture should really enjoy this. I suppose it stands on its own just fine, but it seems the priority of the movie makers (IMO rightly) was to report what happened rather than create a concise, consistent, entertaining story arc.

[Weirded Wonder]

I'm hoping that Best Buy has this tomorrow!!!

[rich_adamson]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Went to add it to the Netflix queue, and found that it is available for streaming.... so FYI for those looking to preview before buying.

In HD no less!!

[ArieS]

I've had this movie in my Netflix queue on Blu-Ray for over a month and now I see it's just been released, what gives?

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by ArieS

I've had this movie in my Netflix queue on Blu-Ray for over a month and now I see it's just been released, what gives?

You can add a movie that isn't released yet. If the release date is coming up sometimes it will even move from the saved to the active part of the queue. For example, Bad Lieutenant was in the "saved" section of my queue for months. A couple of weeks ago it started crawling up my active queue, even though it's not due for release until next Tuesday.

[ArieS]

Hmm no. It was listed as available.

[JJ]

The review made me interested to see this, so I added it to my Netflix queue.

[Bluyoda]

I saw this on BD a while ago, and thought it was great, but I felt like a terrorist afterwards.

Now the price is low, so I'd buy it if you are interested.

This is a very intense and unique movie with great direction and performances.

It's not for the faint-hearted however.

[Weirded Wonder]

Overall, I wasn't that impressed with this film. I know this is covering an expansive era of great German importance and perhaps the filmmaker tried to cover too much ground. The book is brilliant of which the film is based on. It's not terrible, just okay for me.