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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 radicalised 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.
Producer and scriptwriter Bernd Eichinger (PERFUME - STORY OF A MURDERER, DOWNFALL) brings Stefan Aust's standard work on RAF terrorism, THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX to the big screen for Constantin Film. Director Uli Edel (LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN, ZOO) presents the dramatic events that shook the democratic foundations of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1967 to the "German Autumn" of 1977.
THE ORIGINAL BOOK
Stefan Aust's book "The Baader Meinhof Complex" was first published in 1985 and has defined today's view of the Red Army Faction's war against the state like no other book. It is neither a case for the prosecution nor the defence. It does not proclaim any verdict, either legally or morally. It is a protocol, a chronicle of the events that reached their peak in the "German Autumn" of 1977, in the hijacking and liberation of the passengers and crew of the Lufthansa plane "Landshut," the suicides of the imprisoned RAF leaders and the murder of the Employers' Association President Hanns Martin Schleyer.
Stefan Aust, born in 1946, was for many years the chief editor of the German news magazine "Der Spiegel" and also the founder and editor of "Spiegel TV". He was sub- editor of the left-wing magazine "konkret" from 1966 to 1969. From 1970 to 1985 he worked for the German public broadcaster NDR, where he produced numerous TV- reports on the subject of terrorism. Stefan Aust has written many books and produced TV documentaries, most recently "The RAF" (2007) with Helmar Buechel.
He wrote the script for Reinhard Hauff's feature film STAMMHEIM (1986), which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. His book, "The Baader Meinhof Complex", which has now become the definitive book on RAF terrorism, appeared for the first time in 1985 and was updated in 1997. A new revised and expanded edition of the book, containing new information from previously unavailable sources, will be published to coincide with the release of the film THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX.
READ AN INTERVIEW WITH STEFAN AUST
BERND EICHINGER (WRITER & PRODUCER)
After graduating from Munich Film Academy in 1973, Bernd Eichinger founded his first production company, Solaris Film. Throughout the 70s he produced many of the new generation of German auteur films, including Wim Wender's THE WRONG MOVEMENT, Edgar Reitz' ZERO HOUR, Hans W. Geissendörfer's Oscar-nominated THE GLASS CELL and Wolfgang Petersen's THE CONSEQUENCE.
Bernd Eichinger went on to produce films such as CHRISTIANE F. and LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN both directed by Uli Edel, THE NEVERENDING STORY directed by Wolfgang Petersen, THE NAME OF THE ROSE directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS directed by Bille August.
Eichinger's producing credits also include FANTASTIC FOUR and FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER based on the Marvel comics as well as the video game adaptations RESIDENT EVIL, RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE and RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION starring Milla Jovovich.
He co-produced NOWHERE IN AFRICA, which won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2002. 2003 Eichinger wrote and produced DOWNFALL, which was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2004.
Most recently, Eichinger produced THE ELEMENTARY PARTICLES directed by Oskar Roehler and PERFUME - STORY OF A MURDERER directed by Tom Tykwer. Worldwide DOWNFALL and PERFUME -STORY OF A MURDERER grossed approximately $100 million and $150 million respectively, making them two of the most successful German productions in decades.
READ AN INTERVIEW WITH BERND EICHINGER
ULI EDEL (DIRECTOR)
Uli Edel studied German literature and drama at Munich University before enrolling at the Munich Film Academy. Here he directed his first short films, which were produced by his fellow student and friend Bernd Eichinger.
In 1981, Uli Edel, once again with Bernd Eichinger as producer, directed CHRISTIANE F.. The film was a worldwide success and won numerous international awards (including the Montreal Film Festival).
In 1989 in New York, Edel and Eichinger made their next film together, LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN (starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Burt Young), based on the novel by Hubert Selby. The film won the German Film Awards for Best Film and Best Director and the Bavarian Film Award in 1990. In the USA it won the New York Film Critic Award and the Chicago Film Critic Award, amongst others.
Uli Edel has been living in Los Angeles since 1990, where he's made a successful career as a director of event movies and miniseries for US pay TV, winning numerous awards. To name but a few, his TV movie "Rasputin" won 3 Golden Globes and 3 Emmies. "The Mists of Avalon" was nominated for 11 Emmies and was 21 voted Best TV Film at the 2001 San Francisco International Film Festival. His western, "Purgatory", made television history: it became the most successful cable TV movie in the history of US television, with 31 million viewers on its first showing.
READ AN INTERVIEW WITH ULI EDEL
READ INTERVIEWS WITH THE CAST TALKING BOUT THEIR CHARACTERS
SYNOPSIS LONG
June 1967. Prominent left-wing journalist Ulrike Meinhof (Martina Gedeck) is shocked by reports of a violent demonstration in Berlin, during which a student was shot dead by a policeman. When Meinhof realises that her marriage has disintegrated, she takes her two children and moves to Berlin. Here she becomes actively involved in the anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist student movement. Increasingly though, she feels that by merely reporting about events she will never bring about actual change.
As a result, she is impressed by the resolve of Gudrun Ensslin (Johanna Wokalek) who, together with her boyfriend Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu), set fire to a department store in order to protest against the Vietnam War. After Baader's arrest, Meinhof helps to free him from prison, which means she must cut all ties with her previous life and even leave her children behind. Together with Baader and Ensslin, she founds the "Red Army Faction" (RAF). Their intention is to spearhead an armed resistance fight against the political status quo in Germany.
After military training at an El Fatah camp in Jordan, the group robs banks and carries out a number of violent and deadly attacks. The death toll starts rising and with it the hysteria of the press. The head of the Federal German Police Force Horst Herold (Bruno Ganz) builds up an enormous police apparatus. In 1972 he manages to capture Baader, Ensslin and Meinhof as well as other RAF members.
Only in captivity, does the RAF leadership develop actual political power. More and more people support their cause and the RAF enlists a number of new recruits including Petra Schelm (Alexandra Maria Lara) and the new leader figure Brigitte Mohnhaupt (Nadja Uhl). Through hunger strikes and further attacks, the RAF increases the pressure on the government, thus rocking the very foundations of German democracy. But while Meinhof, Baader and Ensslin have turned into radical icons, inside the group the tensions are rising. In May 1976, Meinhof commits suicide inside her prison cell.
The violent confrontation between the German state and the RAF spirals out of control in the autumn of 1977. Six weeks after the kidnapping of a prominent industrialist, a plane with 86 German tourists on board is hijacked. Herold's frenzied search for the industrialist remains fruitless, but the plane is eventually freed by a German anti-terrorist squad. The morning after the liberation of the tourists, Ensslin, Baader and another RAF member are found dead in their cells. As an act of revenge, the RAF executes the industrialist.
CHRONICLE OF THE RAF
2 June 67 Protests against the state visit of the Shah of Persia to Berlin, during which the student Benno Ohnesorg is shot dead by a policeman.
17 - 18 February 68 Rudi Dutschke gives a speech against the Vietnam war in front of thousands of students at the Technical University Berlin.
2 April 68 Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, Thorwald Proll and Horst Söhnlein set a Frankfurt department stores on fire to protest against the "Genocide in Vietnam".
3 April 68 The four arsonists are arrested in a Frankfurt apartment.
11 April 68 Rudi Dutschke is shot by a right-wing extremist. As a result, there is fighting in the streets and Axel Springer Group Publishing Houses are attacked.
14 October 68 The trial against the "department store arsonists" (including Andreas Baader and Gudrun Ensslin) begins.
31 October 68 The "department store arsonists" are sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
13 June 69 The "department store arsonists" are released from custody until a verdict is reached on their appeal.
June - November 69 Ensslin and Baader run a "youth collective" whilst awaiting their appeal.
November 69 The appeal against the arsonists' sentences is rejected. Baader and Ensslin go underground - first in France, then in Italy.
February 70 Baader and Ensslin return to Berlin and meet Ulrike Meinhof.
4 April 70 Baader is arrested.
14 May 70 Baader is freed by Meinhof, Ensslin and others - an employee of the "Deutsches Zentralinstitut für soziale Fragen" ("Central German Institute for Social Affairs") is shot. This liberation is viewed as the birth of the Red Army Faction (RAF).
8 June - 5 August 70 The first RAF members receive military training at a camp of the Palestinian liberation organisation El Fatah in Jordan.
29 September 70 The RAF carry out three bank robberies in Berlin, taking more than 200,000 DM. (ca. Euro 100,000).
8 October 70 The RAF members Ingrid Schubert, Horst Mahler, Brigitte Asdonk and Irene Goergens are arrested.
15 January 71 Two bank robberies -110,000 DM (ca. Euro 55,000) taken.
6 May 71 Astrid Proll is arrested.
15 July 71 Massive police raid in Northern Germany, the first RAF member dies: Petra Schelm is shot.
1 September 71 Horst Herold becomes president of the BKA (Federal Criminal Investigation Agency) and revolutionises search methods, using new
computer technology.
22 October 71 The policeman Norbert Schmid is shot; the RAF member Margit Schiller is arrested.
22 December 71 Bank robbery, in which a policeman dies: 135,000 DM (ca. Euro 167,000) taken.
11 May 72 Bomb attack on the V US Corps in Frankfurt/Main - 13 injured, one dead.
12 May 72 Bomb attack on the police headquarters in Augsburg - five injured. Car bomb planted in front of the Munich LKA (State Criminal Investigation Agency) - considerable damage caused.
15 May 72 Attack on the car of Federal Judge Buddenberg, in which his wife is seriously injured.
19 May 72 Bomb attack on the Axel Springer Group Publishing House - 17 injured.
24 May 72 Car bombs planted in front of the US Army European Headquarters - three dead, five injured.
31 May 72 The biggest police operation ("Aktion Wasserschlag") in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany takes place.
1 June 72 After an exchange of fire with the police, Baader, Holger Meins and Jan-Carl Raspe are arrested in Frankfurt/Main.
7 June 72 Gudrun Ensslin is arrested in a fashion boutique in Hamburg.
9 June 72 Brigitte Mohnhaupt and Bernhard Braun are arrested.
15 June 72 Ulrike Meinhof and Gerhard Müller are arrested.
5 September 72 Black September: Palestinians shoot eleven members of the Israeli Olympic squad and a policeman in Munich - five terrorists are shot dead.
17 January - 12 February 73 First RAF prisoners' hunger strike against solitary confinement.
8 May - 29 June 73 Second RAF prisoners' hunger strike.
4 February 74 Christian Eckes, Helmut Pohl, Ilse Stachowiak, Eberhard Becker, Wolfgang Beer and Margrit Schiller are arrested. Astrid Proll is released after being judged unfit to be kept in prison and goes underground.
27 August 74 - 2 February 75 Third hunger strike.
9 November 74 Wittlich Prison: Holger Meins dies as a result of the hunger strike.
10 November 74 The most senior judge in Berlin, Günter von Drenkmann, is shot by the "June 2 Movement".
18 November 74 Dutschke raises his fist at Holger Meins's funeral and declares: "Holger, the struggle continues."
27 February 75 The "June 2 Movement" kidnaps the CDU politician Peter Lorenz.
4 March 75 Peter Lorenz is released when demands are met.
24 April 75 The German Embassy in Stockholm is occupied by the "Kommando Holger Meins" - three dead, several injured.
21 May 75 First day of the trial of Baader, Ensslin, Meinhof and Raspe in Stammheim.
9 May 76 Meinhof is found hanged in her cell in Stuttgart-Stammheim.
14 January 77 The senior judge Theodor Prinzing is forced to resign after handing over confidential files to a third party.
27 January 77 Brigitte Mohnhaupt released.
29 March - 1 May 77 Fourth hunger strike.
7 April 77 Assassination of the Chief Federal Prosecutor Siegfried Buback and his bodyguards and his driver.
28 April 77 The end of the Stammheim trial: Baader, Ensslin and Raspe are given life sentences.
30 July 77 The banker Jürgen Ponto is shot during a kidnap attempt by Mohnhaupt, Susanne Albrecht, and Christian Klar.
25 August 77 An attempt to shoot at the Federal German Bar fails.
9 August - 2 September 77 Fifth hunger strike.
5 September 77 The industrialist Hanns Martin Schleyer is kidnapped in an attempt to force the release of Baader, Ensslin, Raspe and others.
22 September 77 Knut Folkerts is arrested in Utrecht (NL) - a policeman is shot.
29 September 77 The Stammheim prisoners are banned from communicating with each other.
13 October 77 Four Palestinian terrorists hijack the Lufthansa plane "Landshut" in an attempt to force the release of RAF and Palestinian prisoners.
16 October 77 The pilot of the "Landshut" is shot dead.
17 October 77 The GSG 9 frees the "Landshut" hostages in Mogadishu. The next morning, Baader, Raspe and Ensslin are found dead in their cells in Stammheim. Another prisoner, Irmgard Möller, survives with serious injuries.
19 October 77 Schleyer is shot dead by the RAF.
THE ART OF ADAPTATION
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