I've long been fascinated by the group of young intellectuals who tried to change the German political system in the 60s and 70s by force.
So much so I wrote my dissertation on the subject of the Red Army Faction or the Baader-Meinhof gang.
Of course, Baader and Meinhof were not an item. His girlfriend was Gudrun Ennslin, who committed suicide on the same night in Stuttgart-Stammheim jail in 1977 and was every bit as militant as Ulrike Meinhof, who is seen as one of the gang's leaders.
I'm sorry if that was a spoiler but I find it a little difficult to believe that anyone who has an interest in watching Andres Veiel's film would not know that.
However, what they may not know (I didn't) was what was the background of Ennslin's life before she starting taking part in the mayhem post-1968.
Well, it turns out that she was the partner of Bernward Vesper, the son of a former editor of the leading Nazi literature magazine.
Thus, theirs was a rather unlikely match-up despite their mutual love of the written word and this probably explains its tempestuous nature.
The chronicle of their relationship and the early days for the Baader-Meinhof gang (ironically, Meinhof is never seen in the movie) is enlightening and very well acted.
August Diehl and Lena Lauzemis have great chemistry as the ill-fated lovers and Alexander Fehling is marvellously manic as Baader.
I ought to warn, however, that this is a very positive account of Vesper and Ennslin and many would have taken a dimmer view of the way they led their lives.
I could reveal further what I mean by that but it is better to watch the film and make a moral judgment from there.
The movie certainly grabbed me as someone who has had a long-standing interest in the subject. I was only disappointed, that, now heaving read up on it, some parts of the Vesper/Ennslin relationship are spiced up for the big screen.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: about five scenes
Overall rating: 8/10