Freedom of Speech, Terrorism, or Media Harassment

By Christopher P. Jacobs
Staff Writer

There are some films that seem highly topical when they first come out, closely tied to the times of their release. Many of those quickly become dated, but others seem just as timely over a generation later. Such is the case with the 1975 political crime thriller, “The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum,” written and directed by Volker Schlöndorff and Margarethe von Trotte, and adapted from the novel by Heinrich Böll. The story grew out of government and media reaction to the rise of terrorism in 1970s West Germany, a story that 35 years later resonates with an eerily chilling reality in today’s global political climate.

The terrorists at the time were largely student anarchists and Communists, notably the Baader-Meinhof Group, who actively sought violent political revolution against the West German establishment. However, this film’s focus on its characters rather than ideologies gives it simultaneously greater dramatic impact and broader implications that reach far beyond its time and place.

Numerous films of the late 1960s and 1970s dealt with revolutionaries, campus radicals, and politically-charged themes, glorifying or demonizing one side or the other. Most of those films are now merely curious artifacts of their era. “The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum,” on the other hand, dramatizes the devastating and irreparable effects on individuals that arise from terrorist activities, official counter-terrorist policies, and media exploitation of any popular controversy. It shows what might happen and what it might lead to.

Katharina Blum is an attractive young divorcee known for living alone and rarely socializing. However, one night she decides on a whim to attend a party where she’s attracted to a young man she then brings home to her apartment. The next morning he’s gone, and the police break in to arrest her for harboring a political terrorist, convinced she’s an accomplice. Detained for questioning, she steadfastly refuses to reveal anything that could be considered incriminating. While police officers grudgingly come to believe she has no political motives, an ambitious tabloid reporter with police department connections has been sensationalizing her arrest with daily front-page reports and photos. Naturally this makes Blum the target of constant anonymous threats and propositions.

Schlöndorrf and von Trotte’s film brilliantly balances questions of personal freedom vs. legitimate government concerts about terrorism vs. freedom of the press, with an intensity of characterizations and a few plot twists that are sure to provoke debate. Angela Winkler is superb in the title role, and is supported by a strong cast including Jürgen Prochnow (of “Das Boot”) as the man who changes her life literally overnight.

“The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum” has been on DVD from the Criterion Collection for some time, but late last year was released on an impressive region A and B compatible BluRay from Britain’s Optimum Home Entertainment. The BluRay image, in its original 1.66 aspect ratio (Criterion’s DVD is cropped to 1.85), is extremely sharp and clear, with just a little distracting electronic boosting in a few dark scenes. The DTS-HD Master Audio lossless mono soundtrack is also very good, in German with optional English, French, German, or Japanese subtitles.

The bonus features are all playable on American BluRay players, and include a substantial documentary, interviewing the two directors and the producer, but unfortunately no audio commentary. A short political film Schlöndorff made as an episode for an anthology using some of the “Katharina Blum” cast members, “The Delayed Antigone,” dramatizes a filmmaker’s efforts to get a TV production of the ancient Greek play passed by political censors who find it too inflammatory for the country’s current situation. Also included are a trailer and photo gallery (both in HD), plus a 20-page pamphlet containing an interesting if somewhat awkwardly-translated essay on the influence that the turbulent 1970s political climate in Germany had on writers and young filmmakers.

Optimum’s BluRay can easily be ordered from amazon.co.uk for roughly the same price (including overseas shipping) as Criterion’s standard DVD can be bought over the counter in the U.S.  It’s a film well worth revisiting from time to time, and a worthwhile addition to any collection of international cinema.

“THE LOST HONOR OF KATHARINA BLUM” on BluRay -  Movie:  A   /  Video:  A-  /  Audio:  A   /  Extras:  B+

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