(Der Baader Meinhof Komplex)
Germany 2008. Director: Uli Edel
Cast: Martina Gedeck, Moritz Bleibtreu, Alexandra Maria Lara, Johanna Wokalek, Bruno Ganz
Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar this year, The Baader Meinhof Complex, directed by Uli Edel, from a script by writer-producer Bernd Eichinger (who also wrote and produced 2004’s Downfall, about Hitler’s final days), offers “a dizzying, delirious voyage through the world of West Germany’s legendary terror sect . . . One of the largest productions in postwar German film history, Baader Meinhof has 123 speaking parts, headed by Teutonic film stars Moritz Bleibtreu as terrorist badass Andreas Baader and Martina Gedeck as sexed-up journalist-gone-wild Ulrike Meinhof . . . If you want expositions on Marxist theory, go watch Godard’s La Chinoise . . . This is no art film, but Edel and Eichinger supply an action-packed, reasonably coherent account of youthful rock’n’roll idealism run amok, and how it produced the craziest phenomenon of the crazy European far left” (Andrew O’Hehir, Salon). “Taut, unnerving, forcefully unromantic . . . relying heavily on the historical record . . . Edel gives it the pulse and music of a thriller . . . A terrible, mesmerizing story of curdled idealism, one that has been told before but rarely as well (Manohla Dargis, New York Times). Colour, 35mm, in German with English subtitles. 149 mins.
Estonia/Finland/Russia 2007. Director: Peeter Simm
Cast: Marko Matvere, Anastasiya Makeyeva, Renars Kaupers, TÕnu Kark, Elle Kull
Estonia’s representative in last year’s EUFF was Taarka, a portrait of renowned folk singer Hilana Taarka; another Estonian musical legend is the subject of this year’s entry. “One of Estonia's greatest singing stars, Georg Ots (Marko Matvere) was born in 1920 into a musical family. He had a strong, rich baritone which impressed his teachers, but he was forced to set aside his studies when he was drafted to fight in World War II. While serving in the Soviet army, Georg met Asta Saar (Anastasiya Makeyeva), a lovely woman with a talent for dancing. After the war, Georg and Asta were married. While Georg soon rose to fame as his nation’s finest operatic vocalist, Asta’s career as a ballet artist stalled, and she turned to alcohol to soothe her disappointment . . . Despite his fame in Estonia, Russia and Finland, Georg was frustrated by his inability to perform in Europe and the West due to the tensions of the Cold War” (Mark Deming, All Movie Guide). “A decidedly old-fashioned drama, told with a cast of hundreds and lush production values to match . . . Russian starlet Makeyeva steals the movie as his often-sozzled wife” (Variety). Colour, 35mm, in Estonian, Finnish and Russian with English subtitles. 107 mins.
BOX OFFICE · CASH ONLY Tickets go on sale 30 minutes before the first screening of the evening.
ADVANCE TICKETS
Available for credit card purchase on this website until 4pm the day of screening.
Screenings restricted to 18+ and require a Pacific Cinémathèque membership unless otherwise indicated.
FRIDAY, dec. 04 – 6:45 PM
