The State against Fritz Bauer

Frankfurt am Main, 1957: There is a spirit of optimism in the Federal Republic. People want to forget the horrors of the Nazi regime and look to a better, happier future. But Attorney General Fritz Bauer (Burghart Klaußner) fights against forgetting: he wants to hold the perpetrators of the SS regime accountable for their crimes. But not only in his own office, but also in the secret services, in politics and in business, central positions are occupied by former National Socialists. And they naturally want to do everything in their power to prevent men like Bauer from exposing them and bringing them to justice. When Bauer receives a tip about the whereabouts of former SS-Obersturmbannführer Adolf Eichmann, he begins researching the Eichmann case with the help of young prosecutor Karl Angermann (Ronald Zehrfeld). And it doesn't take long before he faces strong headwinds from all sides. While senior prosecutor Ulrich Kreidler (Sebastian Blomberg), with the help of the BKA, tries everything to discredit and silence Bauer, the latter finds himself forced to ask for help elsewhere - which could mean not only the end of their professional careers for him and Angermann...

The State Against Fritz Bauer is basically the prequel to the excellent Im Labyrinth des Schweigens. Both films should be absolute must-sees, and not just for school groups. Apart from that, director Lars Kraume tells a very important chapter of German post-war history and pays deserved tribute to a key figure in Fritz Bauer. He has also directed a very entertaining drama, gripping in almost every second, which is sometimes told with astonishingly biting humor and then again reveals traits of a first-class political thriller.

The story the film tells is likely to be largely unknown, especially to younger viewers - just like Fritz Bauer. In this respect, Kraume's film certainly does important educational work here. The fact that this is not done in a completely cerebral and dry manner is to the director's credit, but also to that of his actors. The praise goes first and foremost to a great Burghart Klaußner, who brings the uncompromising attorney general to life almost perfectly. Coupled with a well-researched screenplay and a coherent set, the result is an exciting testimony to the times.

In the process, Kraume and his co-writer Olivier Guez have also taken a few small dramaturgical liberties. For example, the character of Karl Angermann is 100% fictional. But he nevertheless takes on a central role, as he is the representative of a young, idealistic generation of prosecutors who played a significant role in bringing those responsible for the Nazi regime to justice. Moreover, through his character, the subject of homosexuality could be incorporated in a very sensitive, yet significant way.

The State v. Fritz Bauer is another impressive example that sophisticated cinema and entertainment are not mutually exclusive and that contemporary history can also be conveyed in a truly exciting and entertaining way. In addition, the film is quite great actor cinema and has therefore an Absolutely worth seeing more than deserves!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp