Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008) - The thin line between a documentary and an intense action-drama - 9/10 (17/10/10)

This is probably one of the most intense and interesting German movies of the last years. It has everything that a good movie needs: Credible characters and actors, dramatic sequences, a lot of action and tension, a philosophical touch, elements touching romances, friendships and rivalries, an intense atmosphere and a great showdown.

But the best thing is that this is not a simple good movie, but a piece of German culture and history as it tells a true story. The movie is both entertaining and teaching without losing its neutrality towards the very problematic topic. In a country of severe political correctness like Germany, this was probably the most important and difficult thing to consider in this movie. The fact that the actors do not even seem to be actors and fill completely the role of the real people who had lived in the seventies in Western Germany, raise the authenticity and credibility of this movie a lot. Especially Moritz Bleibtreu, who already played great roles in the German cult movies "Knockin' on heaven's door" and "Das Experiment", does once again a brilliant job here.

Another great thing is that you do not even need to know the historical German background of the movie, because every thing is explained and shown in this movie without making this movie too dry and transforming it into a boring documentary movie. As comparable groups and events exist in other countries (in Canada or Québec, it has been the FLQ that is very similar), it is not difficult to watch this movie, understand it and get addicted to it.

I would recommend this film to anyone who likes political and historical topics, that is interested in foreign cultures or who simply wants to see an intense and action filled drama with credible actors.