Who if not us - DVD

Film: Andres Veiel, director of such acclaimed documentaries as Die Spielwütigen or Black Box BRD, tells the story of Bernwald Vesper (August Diehl), son of Nazi writer Will Vesper (Thomas Thieme), in his feature film Wer wenn nicht wir (Who If Not Us), who, inspired by his studies with scholars such as Walter Jens, feels called to become a great poet himself. He wants to shake up society with his words, wants to make a difference. While studying in Tübingen, Bernwald also meets and falls in love with Gudrun Ensslin (Lena Lauzemis) - the beginning of an extreme love affair that drives Bernwald into a drug frenzy and Gudrun Ensslin into the terrorist underground.

What may seem like the prequel to The Baader Meinhof Complex is, on closer inspection, a completely independent work that clearly places the characters in the foreground. While the historical background also plays an important role, it is reflected in the actions of the protagonists and the developments of their characters rather than conveyed through specific events depicted. Of course, the viewer is provided with a lot of information about the political situation in the 60s, and Veiel's background as a documentary filmmaker comes in handy here. For the individual acts of his story are connected by documentary footage, accompanied by a great 60s soundtrack.

Through this form of mise-en-scène, Veiel manages, on the one hand, to create an authentic picture of the 60s and provide the viewer with information important to the story, while at the same time giving his characters enough room to develop - something that was rather lacking in The Baader Meinhof Complex. It also allows the performances of the actors to be better appreciated. August Diehl portrays the downward spiral in which Bernwald Vesper is caught strongly and absolutely credibly. However, the film is primarily carried by the engaging performance of Lena Lauzemis, who turns Gudrun Ensslin into a very complex character. The only criticism that can be levelled at Lauzemis is that she owns the audience's sympathies for too long, which of course doesn't help what takes centre stage in the final third of the film.

Who If Not Us is a powerful drama that tells a moving love story without false nostalgia and with a strong cast, but one that isn't certified a happy ending from the start. It is a political, but at the same time deeply human film. An arthouse drama that tells of a country before its political upheaval. A film that seems particularly topical right now, and that is precisely why it is well worth seeing, despite small lengths!

Image + Sound: The very clean image has an atmospheric color scheme that underscores the authentic character of the set. The overall sharpness can also convince, only in the detail representation there are in darker moments here and there minor point deductions. In terms of sound, the focus is on dialogue and the good soundtrack, both of which sound coherently mixed out of the speakers. Here and there, some well-used surround effects and ambient sounds provide a little dynamic to the action. Good!

Extras: The bonus material starts with a very interesting audio commentary by director Andres Veiel and producer Thomas Kufus. The two talk about the shoot, the problems with the actors' wigs, the reason why one of Veiel's favorite scenes had to be cut from the film or where the makers took some artistic liberties.

In addition to three interviews (approx. 13 min.) with Veiel and his two main actors, there are then almost 15 minutes of cut scenes worth watching. In the commentary Veiel repeatedly mentions why the scissors had to be applied in some places and the reasons are quite understandable. Nevertheless, some very nice character moments are hidden in the cut material, which make this extra absolutely worth seeing.

There is also the trailer, film educational accompanying material in pdf format for download, as well as other film tips from the provider. In addition, the main film is also offered in a hearing film version for the visually impaired. The Blu-Ray also has a 60-minute documentary about Andreas Baader to offer.

Conclusion: Who if not us is a good drama that makes up for some small lengths by the strong actors and good direction loose. The DVD presents itself technically in good quality, the bonus material is clear, but well worth seeing and hearing. For lovers of more sophisticated German dramas, this DVD is therefore: absolutely recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp