Based on a story by Heinrich Böll and his own experiences, this political drama tells the nightmare of an innocent young woman in the clutches of the police and the media. Von Trotta co-wrote and co-directed the film with her then-husband Volker Schlöndorff. The story is fictional but firmly rooted in the reality of 1970s West Germany.
Katharina falls in love with Ludwig, whom she meets at a party, and spends the night with him. In the morning, the police raid his house, but the suspected terrorist Ludwig has disappeared. A chase ensues that costs Katharina her privacy, her dignity, and ultimately her mother’s life. The police, using excessive means, and a sensationalist journalist, spreading blatant lies, exchange information – this is the way a hysterical society works. “Is there nothing the state can do to protect us from this filth?” asks Katharina’s aunt from the police.
The gauntlet, which takes place over a few days, is framed by a light-hearted carnival atmosphere that grotesquely highlights Katharina’s exposure to collective hatred and lies. Afterwards, the editor of the sensationalist magazine makes a hypocritical speech about the threat to democracy and freedom of the press. Made 50 years ago, the film is frighteningly relevant today.
Kaisu Isto