Germany in Autumn, dir. Fassbinder, Schlondorff, et al.

[GER199W10]

Please post your review of Germany in Autumn (1978) under this thread.

[juggalobro69]

The film Germany in the Autumn takes an interesting look at the subject of German terrorism, specifically the RAF. This film contrasts markedly with other films presented in this class on the subject and draws some interesting comparisons. The aspect of the film that struck me the most was the fragmented perspective it viewed the subject matter with. Rather than getting a large, cohesive narrative the film was broken into many small segments that all dealt with the the issue of terrorism in one way or another. I have mixed feelings about the effectiveness of this type of technique.
While certain segments of the film were engaging and comprehensible others were downright puzzling. A big part of this confusion was definitely my own limited knowledge of the subject matter. This film rejects the notion that a film must consist of a single cohesive narrative. It was a bold choice. The viewer is left leaving the film wondering what the overall message of the collective segments may be if there is even a single message to be found at all.
Another advantage to creating a film this way is that the viewer is expected to take an active role. This is not an easy film to watch and it is not an easy plot to decipher as in regular style films. Rather, the fragmented structure of the film forces the viewer to struggle to make sense of what I believe is an intentionally confusing narrative. There are conflicting points in this film. There are parts of this film that make little sense. However, these aim to achieve a purpose. This purpose is to communicate the complexity of the issue of German terrorism. The issue is so complex and nuanced that only a film as fragmented and confusing as this one can properly communicate it. To create a film about German terrorism with a typical plot line that is easy to understand would be oversimplifying the issue. Perhaps the true message of this film is that Germans feel very conflicted about the history of terrorism in their country and there is no clear consensus on how they should treat the subject.
My overall judgement of the film is mixed. Some of the segments were delightful, others were atrocious. However, I enjoyed more segments than I disliked.

-juggalobro out -