Gudrun Ensslin - the early years
Gudrun Ensslin - the early years

Movie spotlight

Gudrun Ensslin - the early years

1968
Movie
10 min
German

How the graduate student Gudrun Ensslin became a radical and violent woman. After the department store fire in Frankfurt, November 1968, in which Gudrun Ensslin and Andreas Baader was involved the violence and their actions escalated. Soon they were joined by Ulrike Meinhof, Together the three created the urban guerrilla of West Germany, the Baader-Meinhof Gang a.k.a. die RAF - die Rote Armee Fraktion. An episode out of Panorama, NDR.

Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Director: Heinz EmigholzGenres: Documentary

Plot Summary

This documentary delves into the formative period of Gudrun Ensslin, a key figure in the Red Army Faction (RAF). It explores her radicalization and involvement in leftist movements in Germany during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film examines the political and social climate that influenced her actions and the subsequent formation of the RAF.

Critical Reception

The film was noted for its detailed archival research and its attempt to provide context for the radicalization of West German youth during the era. It was appreciated by some for its objective presentation of historical events, while others found it to be a somber and perhaps incomplete portrait.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its in-depth historical context and archival footage.

  • Examined the complex political landscape of 1960s Germany.

  • Considered a challenging but informative look at a controversial figure.

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Fun Fact

The documentary is part of Heinz Emigholz's larger film series 'The Great Ecstasy of the Rough Cut' and focuses specifically on the period of Gudrun Ensslin's radicalization and her early involvement with the Red Army Faction.

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