ULRIKE MARIE MEINHOF: LETTER TO HER DAUGHTER {IN
GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBSTITLES} (TV)

Summary

A German-language documentary produced by ARTE, the French-German cultural channel which provides innovative programming for the European community. This documentary chronicles the life of Ulrike Meinhof, an accomplished, idealistic journalist who turned to terrorism. Filmmaker Timon Koulmasis speaks with Meinhof's friends and colleagues to reveal how her beliefs shifted from political activism to urban terrorism, resulting in her arrest in 1972 and her suicide four years later. As he narrates the program, Koulmasis recalls the years from his childhood when he resided with Meinhof and her daughters. Highlights include the following: publisher Klaus Wagenbach describes Meinhof's decision to break Andreas Baader out of jail, live underground, and launch an armed struggle with her comrades; Jurgen and Monika Seifert, who attended school with Meinhof, recall the political groups that she joined as a student and the influence of her politically active mother; Meinhof's one-time husband, Klaus Rainer Rohl, reminisces about the couple's first meeting, her employment at his newspaper "Konkret," and their courtship and marriage; and poet Peter Ruhmkorf recalls the political group that Meinhof joined which led to the break-up of her marriage. Then, Timon Koulmasis's father, Peter, describes the odd household where Meinhof's children grew up along with his own kids. Ruth Walz, a friend of Meinhof's, recalls their children's "alternative" nursery school, Meinhof's periods of depression, and her yearning to politically mobilize a women's residence. Also, Walz comments on Baade's influence on Meinhof's life; Freimut Duve recalls Meinhof's actions prior to burning down her ex-husband's home; and Astrid Proll describes her unique place in the Red Army Faction. Additionally, the former journalist's writings are read aloud, including her farewell letter to Rohl and letters that she wrote to her children from jail. In audio and film excerpts, Meinhof speaks about the need to vote for peace; the purpose of the "urban guerilla"; the incompatible elements of her life; and the problems with authority in Germany. As the program concludes, Wagenbach recalls his final meeting with the urban guerilla prior to her arrest and explains that he tried to persuade her to abandon the struggle. The program includes footage of police searching for Red Army members; "Bambule," a film that Meinhof wrote; her appearances on German television; protests in Germany; and home movies of Meinhof and Rohl.

(This program is in German with English subtitles; some portions feature English narration.)

Cataloging of this program was made possible by ARTE, The Cultural Services of the French Embassy, and the Goethe-Institut New York/German Cultural Center, 1997.

Details

• NETWORK: ARTE (France)/(Germany)
• DATE: November 30, 1993
• RUNNING TIME: 1:01:47
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:49100
• GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
• SUBJECT HEADING: Demonstrations; Germany - History; International Collection - France; International Collection - Germany; Reporters and reporting; Terrorism
• SERIES RUN: ARTE (France)/(Germany) - TV, 1994
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Fabrice Puchault … Producer, For Les Films du Village
• Timon Koulmasis … Director, Writer, Narrator
• Bertina Henrichs … Researcher
• Andreas Baader
• Freimut Duve
• Peter Koulmasis
• Ulrike Meinhof
• Astrid Proll
• Klaus Rainer Rohl
• Peter Ruhmkorf
• Jurgen Seifert
• Monika Seifert
• Klaus Wagenbach
• Ruth Walz