Monday, September 14, 2009

The Badder Meinhof Complex ***1/2



I will be seeing this film tomorrow, and will write a note than. A look at Germany's Red Army Faction (RAF), which organized bombings, robberies, kidnappings and assassinations in the late 1960s and '70s. Based on Stefan Aust's best-selling nonfiction book.

Update 09/15/2009: Tonight I was able to view the film.

I thought the film captured, the evolution of a group of middle class radicals, from activism to terrorism and death.

Politics wasn't explained in even as much detail as the Che movie. The reason was is because the New Left had poor ideological foundations. The key aspect of the middle class adventurism, is contempt for workers as the vanguard.

From my memories of the period, the terrorist cadres, were something outside the experience of most antiwar activists, who come from pacifism and moral outrage.

See this roller coaster of an experience movie.

Later this week I'm seeing a screening of Michael Moore's new film, with him there in person.

RENEGADE EYE

20 comments:

Nevin said...

It's in my Netflix list.... I will be watching it soon as well...

The Sentinel said...

I watched this a few months ago; its very long but quite accurate and still manages to entertain as a film. Worth seeing.

Seán said...

It's watchable but its political content is negligible. Seems at various points its an 'action' movie, then a thriller, then an old fashioned film about outlaws...but by the end you don't really give a shit.

For viewers who knew nothing about these characters, I don't think the film is particularly enlightening. Indeed, the film - like the middle class radicals involved - is completely confused.

I much preferred The Wave (Die Welle) - a teen high school movie on the surface but containing a compelling exposition of how fascism/totalitarianism can take hold and become attractive to a group of teenagers who have nothing but consumerism to occupy their minds.

Have to say in recent years there have been a number of excellent German films produced.

jams o donnell said...

Just added it to my rental list

Frank Partisan said...

It looks like it'll be tomorrow evening, when I see that film.

I read up on that group. Their politics (Mao-Gueverra-Marcuse) was typical of the New Left at that time. In terms of tactics they were by themselves. I was politically active in the 60s, and I was romantic. I was and most people I knew wouldn't do anything that would hurt a human being.

troutsky said...

I was living in Germany from 71 to 74. all I met were hippies but the terrorism sure made hitch hiking harder. I wonder if I could still understand any German.

Seán said...

The RAF were, when all said and done, middle class adventurists. Although there were historical circumstances for the way these left groups developed - in Germany and Italy especially - (both locations where fascism and nazism first began to manifest itself) the film doesn't really explore this aspect in any detail.

I think the novel 'The Reader' has a better handle on post-war Germany and why groups like 'Baader Meinhof' developed like they did.

Frank Partisan said...

Seán: The Weathermen like Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn etc, came also from high class backgrounds. Ayers and Dohrn are now solidly Democrats.

The Reader was great.

Troutsky: I suppose you carried a loaf of dark bread and cheese.

tony said...

Yea, The Reader was great.but I dont quite get the link it has with terrorism?
Enjoy the Film Ren!

Anonymous said...

Ayers and Dohrn are now solidly Democrats... and daddy's money got Bernadine and Michelle Obama law firm jobs and Barack Obama started in politics and positions on all his son's Annenberg Challenge related grant making boards, yep one big happy $Democrat$ family...

Anonymous said...

Can we all say "Red Diaper Babies"? Yes we can.

Frank Partisan said...

Tony: The Reader wasn't about terrorism. It was about the confusion of that generation of German youth.

FJ: Red diaper baby refers to sons and daughters of Communist Party members, Ayers/Dohrn come from liberal backgrounds.

Seán: I liked the movie better than you did. It's true after awhile you don't care much about anybody.

Their politics had no depth.

I thought the movie indicted the PFLP to some extent.

SecondComingOfBast said...

"Later this week I'm seeing a screening of Michael Moore's new film, with him there in person."

Oh so they'll be showing it outdoors?

SecondComingOfBast said...

One day while promoting his latest movie, Michael Moore had to appear in two different cities on the same day. He went to the first city, and as soon as the movie was over, he realized it was almost time for his appearance at the screening in the second city.

So he stood up and turned around.

said...

I have contempt for worrrrr, errrr - nope.....for humans - nope, again.....ahhhhhhhhhh, I have contempt for DNA as the vanguard, yep, that's it.

Frank Partisan said...

Pagan: Michael Moore tonight at the Lagoon Theater. He is booked in a 120 seat theater.

Tor: No vanguard, they were rearguard.

SecondComingOfBast said...

Ren-

I hope they have the theater area cordoned off. That's dangerous, and unnecessary. It would be safer and faster just to implode the building. They wouldn't even have to take the seats out first.

Anonymous said...

yey fat jokes!

Anonymous said...

Has anyone bothered to read the RAF communiques? You may find some of the 'depth' that you are currently thinking does not exist.

Anonymous said...

Repeat the above.