Without knowing and understanding the motives of terrorists, can the authorities stop them? There are no definite answers in this German movie, but the story of Ulrike Meinhof, Andreas Baader and their followers has implications and messages that make the audience think about the minds of the terrorists. 
 
The shocking first few minutes of The Baader Meinhof Complex with a German nude beach scene are nothing compared to what await the viewers in the next chapter. The movie immediately moves on to a clash between the protesters against the Shah of Iran vs. the German police in 1967. Ulrike Meinhof (Martina Gedeck) is a journalist and writer for a far-left magazine, and her views against imperialism and oppression drives her to become a key player in the Red Army Fraction (RAF, aka Baader-Meinhof Group) along with relentless Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu) and his confidante and lover Gudrun Ensslin (Johanna Wokalek).
 
After the group sets fire on department stores, they are on the run. They go to Italy, and eventually train in a terrorist camp in Jordan where Baader insults and yells to a commander that they are here to learn the skills for bank robbery, not desert warfare. When they return to Germany, their violence escalates – bombing police stations, government offices, US barracks, kidnapping, bank robberies, and murdering government officials and police officers. Even after the arrests of major RAF members and during their trials, the terror continues.
 
I got frustrated a dozen times, not with the story itself but with the characters in this movie. Early in the movie Meinhof mentions that she will never abandon her children. Yet she seems to be willing to sacrifice more for the RAF than for her children. Some may find Baader’s reckless personality charismatic, but I feel that he and his members often forget what they are fighting for. However, their imperfections make this movie more interesting and realistic.
 
The acting is first class. Bruno Ganz, who played Adolf Hitler in Downfall (if you have not seen Downfall, you must check it out), gives yet another brilliant performance. Playing the head of the German federal police task force, Horst Herold, Ganz brings his character to life by adding humanity and genuine emotions in the midst of the government vs. anti-government political and human drama. The overall casting is excellent, and some of the actors and actresses actually do look like the real terrorists back then.
 
Furthermore, the production quality is outstanding, and the props, cars, and film sets are as authentic as they can get. The director does a fantastic job of reenacting, and the viewers will witness the brutality by seeing actual news footages and photos of the RAF’s violent acts. These are accompanied by announcements of MLK Jr.’s and JFK Jr.’s assassinations, as well as unforgettable clips and images of the Vietnam War, of protests in France, Mexico, and Czech Slovakia to remind us of the dreadful times not only in Germany but also in many parts in the world.
 
The second disc is entirely dedicated to special features, which easily exceed the standards for any foreign film. It is fascinating to hear Stefan Aust, author of the original book “Der Baader Meinhof Komplex” talking about his relationship with the group. The bonus features themselves certainly offer an extended value to your purchase. 
 
The movie summarizes the rise and the fall of the RAF well, but there are a few questions that remain unanswered. If you have never heard of the RAF or the Baader-Meinhof Group, you will probably have even more questions. Nevertheless, whatever your political view is, The Baader Meinhof Complex will show who the RAF were, and make you curious what happened to the rest of the members and how the group was eventually disbanded. Even though I wish the movie included the final hours/days of the RAF organization, I enjoyed the transformation of the characters. I recommend this film to those who are interested in historical and political foreign films.