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Rating: A recent film, neither good nor bad (as a film), yet interesting (as a subject, especially for the younger audience), attempts to condense in a couple of hours a very complex period of recent German and European history. In the film, much is left unsaid and many issues remain unresolved or are treated superficially, but perhaps it could not have been otherwise. To learn about those years in a more complete and in-depth way, as well as in a more challenging way, it is better to read some books, among which stands out Lieber wuetend als traurig. Die lebensgeschichte der Ulrike Marie Meinhof, by Alois Prinz.
An excellent book, whose author, beyond any prejudice, tries to understand and helps us understand why Ulrike, initially a good girl, with deep faith and a model student, then a committed journalist and perfect wife and mother, becomes a terrorist. The most wanted, public enemy no. 1 of Germany at the time. Indeed, the Germany of the time: many pages of the book are dedicated to the contextualization of Ulrike's thoughts and actions. In those years, Germany is satisfied with its prosperity and enjoys its consumerism in a bourgeois manner, based also on the exploitation of numerous immigrants, Italian Portuguese Spanish Greek and, last among the last, Turkish; and to enjoy it better forgets its terrible past. The crimes of the fathers are removed, they are silenced. Hypocrisy reaches its peak when Germany is governed by the Grosse Koalition of Kiesinger and Brandt (1966-1969), when there is no longer any difference between government and opposition, when roles are confused, indeed erased (does this remind you of anything?).
"But what should be done when the parliament no longer represents the opinion of the people on matters of vital importance? There are only two answers. Either we remain silent, admitting that we are no longer governed democratically, or we speak out and fight to take our share of responsibility", writes Ulrike.
Many young people do so and do not accept this state of affairs, do not accept injustices, in each of which they see the mark of a resurrected fascism, indeed more alive than ever - certainly, no longer the old fascism with goose-stepping and black or brown shirts, but a new fascism, even more dangerous, because well disguised under "democratic" appearances, as much as they are authoritarian. The young people discuss inside and outside the universities, oppose, act, and protest, democratically. The violence of repression and the death of Benno Ohensorg radicalize them and push many into hiding. Among them, Ulrike as well.
"Sleep, sleep... well-fed people of my Germany, well-thinking people... sleep peacefully, like the dead. My scream cannot wake you, because the inhabitants of a cemetery do not wake up". Despite this awareness, Ulrike cannot help but scream.
The rest is known.
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