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'''''Germany in Autumn''''' ({{lang-de|'''Deutschland im Herbst'''}}) is a 1978 West German [[Anthology film|omnibus film]] about the 1970s terrorist incidents known as [[German Autumn]]. The film is composed of contributions from different filmmakers, including [[Rainer Werner Fassbinder]], [[Alexander Kluge]], [[Edgar Reitz]] and [[Volker Schlöndorff]]. It was entered into the [[28th Berlin International Film Festival]], where it won a Special Recognition award.<ref name="berlinale">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1978/03_preistr_ger_1978/03_Preistraeger_1978.html |title=Berlinale 1978: Prize Winners |work=www.berlinale.de|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref>
'''''Germany in Autumn''''' ({{lang-de|'''Deutschland im Herbst'''}}) is a 1978 West German [[Anthology film|omnibus film]] about the 1970s terrorist incidents known as [[German Autumn]]. The film is composed of contributions from different filmmakers, including [[Rainer Werner Fassbinder]], [[Alexander Kluge]], [[Edgar Reitz]] and [[Volker Schlöndorff]]. It was entered into the [[28th Berlin International Film Festival]], where it won a Special Recognition award.<ref name="berlinale">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1978/03_preistr_ger_1978/03_Preistraeger_1978.html |title=Berlinale 1978: Prize Winners |work=www.berlinale.de|access-date=7 August 2010}}</ref>

==Plot==
The following sequences are loosely intertwined.

The state memorial service of [[Hanns-Martin Schleyer]], leading German industrialist and head of the Daimler-Benz corporation, [[Kidnapping and murder of Hanns-Martin Schleyer|kidnapped and killed]] by members of the [[Red Army Faction|RAF]]. Later on we see factory workers standing in silence to mark Schleyer's death and hospitality staff at the memorial service preparing to serve snacks. These moments are directed by Alexander Kluge.

A series of dialogues between Rainer Werner Fassbinder and his mother, his ex-wife [[Ingrid Caven]], his boyfriend [[Armin Meier]] and others reflecting on the news of the alleged suicides of RAF Members Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and Jan-Carl Raspe in the top security prison of [[Stammheim Prison|Stuttgart-Stammheim]]. This sequence is also directed by Fassbinder.

A montage begins with a history teacher called Gabi Teichart digging the ground with a spade. She is questioning some of the curriculum, causing concern among her superiors. Narrated archive footage explores some of her research into German history, including images of the German Military Railway during the First World War and the state funeral of [[Erwin Rommel]] who was poisoned in 1944 under the orders of Hitler.

A woman is punched in an underground car park. Another woman driving past gets out of her car and thwarts the assailant, brings the woman home and takes care of her.

The RAF co-founder [[Horst Mahler]] is interviewed in prison by a TV company and claims that fascism continues to exist in West Germany after the Nazi era. He also unpicks the moral contradictions of left-wing terrorism. An activist called Franziska Busch watches the interview footage in the TV studio auditorium where her boyfriend works. Busch begins to make propaganda films with her revolutionary group. They film the German singer [[Wolf Biermann]] performing 'Girl in Stuttgart' a monologue which questions the official version of events regarding the [[Stammheim Prison#Faction member deaths (1976–77)|Stammheim death night]].

In Munich a woman is visited by an injured man who is bleeding from the forehead and welcomes him into her apartment. She sees his face on a newspaper among the headshots of wanted terrorists, but chooses not to inform on him.

Customs officers patrol a crossing between French and Germany. An unmarried couple driving through are stopped and have their identification papers checked. The guard speculates that the woman bears a resemblance to one of the wanted terrorists. They are eventually let through. This sequence is directed by Edgar Reitz.






==References==
==References==

Revision as of 15:03, 12 August 2021

Germany in Autumn
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Produced by
Release date
17 March 1978 (1978-03-17) (West Germany)
Running time
119 minutes
CountryWest Germany
LanguageGerman

Germany in Autumn (Template:Lang-de) is a 1978 West German omnibus film about the 1970s terrorist incidents known as German Autumn. The film is composed of contributions from different filmmakers, including Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Alexander Kluge, Edgar Reitz and Volker Schlöndorff. It was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won a Special Recognition award.[1]

Plot

The following sequences are loosely intertwined.

The state memorial service of Hanns-Martin Schleyer, leading German industrialist and head of the Daimler-Benz corporation, kidnapped and killed by members of the RAF. Later on we see factory workers standing in silence to mark Schleyer's death and hospitality staff at the memorial service preparing to serve snacks. These moments are directed by Alexander Kluge.

A series of dialogues between Rainer Werner Fassbinder and his mother, his ex-wife Ingrid Caven, his boyfriend Armin Meier and others reflecting on the news of the alleged suicides of RAF Members Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and Jan-Carl Raspe in the top security prison of Stuttgart-Stammheim. This sequence is also directed by Fassbinder.

A montage begins with a history teacher called Gabi Teichart digging the ground with a spade. She is questioning some of the curriculum, causing concern among her superiors. Narrated archive footage explores some of her research into German history, including images of the German Military Railway during the First World War and the state funeral of Erwin Rommel who was poisoned in 1944 under the orders of Hitler.

A woman is punched in an underground car park. Another woman driving past gets out of her car and thwarts the assailant, brings the woman home and takes care of her.

The RAF co-founder Horst Mahler is interviewed in prison by a TV company and claims that fascism continues to exist in West Germany after the Nazi era. He also unpicks the moral contradictions of left-wing terrorism. An activist called Franziska Busch watches the interview footage in the TV studio auditorium where her boyfriend works. Busch begins to make propaganda films with her revolutionary group. They film the German singer Wolf Biermann performing 'Girl in Stuttgart' a monologue which questions the official version of events regarding the Stammheim death night.

In Munich a woman is visited by an injured man who is bleeding from the forehead and welcomes him into her apartment. She sees his face on a newspaper among the headshots of wanted terrorists, but chooses not to inform on him.

Customs officers patrol a crossing between French and Germany. An unmarried couple driving through are stopped and have their identification papers checked. The guard speculates that the woman bears a resemblance to one of the wanted terrorists. They are eventually let through. This sequence is directed by Edgar Reitz.



References

  1. ^ "Berlinale 1978: Prize Winners". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 7 August 2010.


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