The Baader Meinhof Complex - Stefan Aust

I recently revisited the movie The Baader Meinhof Complex.

 

The logical next step was to re-read Stefan Aust's book of the same name, on which the film was based.  

Basically, this book chronicles the story of the Red Army Fiction, from its origins in the late 60s student protest movement, through to the aftermath of the so-called "German Autumn" of 1977.  The edition which I have also has a new preface, and updates on the more recent activities of the group.

The book is quite a curious one, because it sometimes feels as if corners are being cut, but after completing reading it, I still felt as if I had been told the story comprehensively and representatively.  The short, staccato chapters give the work a fast-paced appearance, as if superfluous information has been "boiled off", leaving just the crucial and necessary detail.  This was a wise strategy, as we are dealing here with occurrences which in essence spanned a decade or more.

The author was a close observer of events, and remains even-handed and dispassionate here.  The preface to the edition which I own does offer some moral judgements, but by and large analysis is that which surfaced at the time when the events took place, offered by the media, families, the state and others.

A large proportion of The Baader Meinhof Complex is dedicated to examining the events leading up to the formation of the RAF "proper", and its main actions.  Portaits of some of the members, concise but enlightening, are provided, and then the story of the late 60s student movement is documented, taking in the events of 2 June 1967.  We see how the various strands coalesced, how members became acquainted, and how the project acquired its momentum.

Some seminal episodes are dealt with, including the period 1969-70, before Andreas Baader was forcibly freed from custody, and the work undertaken to equip and build up the organisation "underground".

There is some real insight into the temperaments of the different protagonists, their original motives, their fears, and their occasional misgivings. The acrimony and dissent which occurred, particularly in those early days, is also detailed.  These passages offer a spotlight into the pressures and strains of the murky underground existence, and how some coped better than others with the lifestyle and the constant upheavals and dangers.

In time, we eavesdrop on the police and the judiciary of the Federal Republic, as they strove to confront this new and ominous threat. The two sides run in parallel, occasionally intertwining.

From going through the book again, and renewing my research on this topic generally, I have a clearer understanding of the Red Army Faction's grievances, although I still find their methods utterly repugnant. 

Also, it can be seen that the judiciary, and the state machinery, often damaged their own credibility and moral standing with heavy-handed, over-zealous or unnecessary measures. The defendants in the Stammheim trial sometimes held some semblance of high ground, but tended to squander it with their delusions, their well-worn and tired rhetoric, and their petulance in court and elsewhere. Less obduracy may have helped, but of course passions were running high, and it is easy to make these observations three and a half decades later.

The book's coverage of the so-called "German Autumn" in 1977 is very effective, conveying the drama, tension and emotions of all concerned.  The savagery and insecurity of the Schleyer kidnappers, the resourcefulness of the authorities, and the horror of the Lufthansa hijacking all come over very vividly.

We switch between the "theatres";the terrorist hide-outs, the corridors of power in Bonn, Stammheim and the hijacked airliner.  The pace quickens as the denouement is approached,brinkmanship, psychology, bargaining, stalling tactics, and blackmail all in evidence.

The underlying emotion which comes across in the aftermath of the events of October 1977 is one of emptiness and bleakness.  The book feels like it concludes abruptly, and perhaps this is no accident.

Throughout the book, Aust reproaches and questions those parties who he feels are at fault, or have a case to answer, be they terrorists, politicians, police or lawyers. The failings of all are laid bare, and he puts forward arguments and evidence lucidly, although some of the questions have never been fully or satisfactorily resolved.

If you are looking for endless passages of sociological dissection of causes and motives, then it may be best to look elsewhere. However, for an authoritatively researched and written, "all under one roof" account this is very good.

The Baader Meinhof Complex (movie)

One subject which has fascinated me for the past two decades or so is the political violence which plagued many European countries in the 1970s, and particularly that which happened in West Germany. Recently I have renewed my study of this phenomenon, and as part of this I have watched again the 2008 movie The Baader Meinhof Complex.  Although I accept that the movie is over three years old, I thought that I would share some of my thoughts and observations.

It is tempting to see The Baader Meinhof Complex as being too glossy and superficial, and lacking nuance and depth.  However, one must recall that this is no niche "art film", but one seemingly aspiring to a wide, mainstream audience. So criticism from that standpoint is a little unjust.  In any event, most films in this sub-genre are tainted with being dubbed too "Hollywood"....

The film was based on Stefan Aust's book of the same name, and it seems that Aust had some input in a consultancy role. This shows in the attention to detail, and the narrative of the movie tallies with my own recollection of reading the book.

The film-makers were confronted with the prospect of telling a very complex and emotive story, and accomplishing this in a little over two hours.  Taking everything into account, I think they did a more than creditable job.  They couldn't hope to cover every aspect in minute detail, so careful use is made of real film footage and other material from the era, and many scenes take the form of "vignettes", all helping to tie things together and ensure continuity.  These abbreviated "snippets" end up being among the most memorable parts of the movie.

An area where the influence of Stefan Aust and his book can be clearly seen is in the portrayal of some of the major characters, particularly Andreas Baader and Gudrun Ensslin.  Care was taken to ensure that some of their personality traits and idiosyncracies were shown. It is not quite a case of truth being stranger than fiction, but the lead actors manage to carry things off quite convincingly.

I was also impressed with the way in which the personal journey of Ulrike Meinhof formed a thread through the movie, from her periods of ambivalence and doubt, her relationship with Gudrun Ensslin, to her eventual estrangement from the rest of the group.

Many of the pivotal scenes in the film are intended to exactly replicate of the actual events, and this will be instantly recognisable to people who are familiar with the film footage from those days. In some ways, this is a mixed blessing. 

As in many movies of this kind, the "crowd" scenes are the ones which are most awkward to make convincing and not "staged".  Film-makers seldom get the balance correct, and in this The Baader Meinhof Complex is no exception.  I really don't know what the answer is.  These scenes are often essential to the relating of the story, but habitually look hopelessly contrived, and put the teeth on edge! My preferences are always for the parts of movies where personalities, motives, insecurities and human nature are examined, and this film allows ample scope for this.

I did not find the movie in any way judgemental, but an attempt to be even-handed and present events as accurately and frankly as possible, and let the viewer make up his or her own mind. This is aided by the telling of the story partly from the point of view of the West German authorities, and the differing views evident within the "inner circle" of police officers.  This was a mature depiction of all concerned; things are rarely black and white; there are a million shades of grey in between.

Continuing the "shades of grey" theme, there is some effort to underline the emergence of divergent agendas within the group, differing interpretations of aims and ideals, and the points at which individual consciences and scruples can no longer be suppressed and stifled.  All human beings have weaknesses, foibles and insecurities, and we are shown this as well as the bravado and bluster. The reconciling of "ends" and "means" is a sub-text, though not pushed excessively.

The film captures much of the anger and indignation of the protagonists, but also how this can become mutated.  Some people are easily led, and seduced by a sense of "belonging",  but soon realise that they do not possess the same zeal or ruthlessness as their comrades, but are in too deep to easily extricate themselves. Others seem at times to be driven as much driven by ego and narcissism as by the cause which they espouse.

The sequences set within the walls of Stammheim are among the most affecting in the film. The feelings of frustration and isolation are palpable, and we see the familiar dymanics involving people who are either in a confined space, or thrown together in close proximity to each other.  People have different thresholds of pain, suffering and torment. Still, even when the will has been broken and hope seems gone, the feeling of being trapped, and the need to "belong", still eat away.

Inevitably, a subject this contentious and troublesome will divide opinion, but overall, I would say that The Baader Meinhof Complex does a creditable job of telling a very contentious and complicated story, being quite comprehensive but still holding the attention.