The Red Baron (Germany/UK)
Director: Nikolai Muellerschoen
With: Matthias Schweighofer, Til Schweiger, Lena Headey, Joseph Fiennes
The Red Baron of song and story, Manfred von Richtofen (Schweighofer), was the foremost WWI flying ace, with 80 confirmed “kills” to his name. I put kills in quotes because, if this film is to be believed, Richtofen told the fliers under his command that the objective was to down aeroplanes (sic), not to kill pilots. “We are not butchers,” he tells them.
The First World War was both the last war of the 19th century, and the first modern war, introducing planes, tanks and chemical warfare. As portrayed here, Richtofen was noble by birth and by nature. He believed war to be governed by rules, and to be fought by gentlemen. He was appalled by the brutality and blood lust he saw around him, and sought to alleviate it.
The film goes to great pains to show him as the best friend of a Jewish pilot, and distraught by his death, even though the character is fictional and a stand-in for the many Jews who fought for the kaiser. Yes, we must believe, not all Germans were racist brutes.
Richtofen’s great rival, and the man who is credited with bringing him down, is the Canadian Roy Brown (Fiennes), flying for the Royal Air Force. Richtofen shot him down more than once, but he lived to fly again. Brown likely did not shoot down Richtofen, forensic evidence says that he was killed by a rifle bullet from the ground. They are shown as pals, Brown went to school with one of Richtofen’s relatives, and find ironic that all the royal families of Europe are related and the wars are family disputes at some level.
In the course of the film, Richtofen is wounded, a fact, and falls in love with his nurse (Headey), also a fact. She is shown convincing him that war is not noble, but barbaric. He begins to absorb the message, and it changes his feelings about what is happening in the air and in the trenches.
All this adds up to a moderately interesting movie that has some cool air combat scenes and some nice love scenes and a bunch of angst-ridden philosophizing. Less gruesome than it might have been, and an effort to show us a different Germany. One note of caution: how much of this is historically accurate is questionable. Best to consider it fictionalized.
B
The POW Fest opens today at the Hollywood Theater, in an exciting time for women film-makers. Here is the press release for the festival:
2010 PORTLAND OREGON WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL (POW FEST)
CELEBRATES HISTORIC TIME FOR WOMEN IN FILM THIS WEEK
Festival organizers cheer Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar win and get ready to inspire future women filmmakers –March 18 - 21, 2010, at The Hollywood Theatre
Portland, Oregon – March 16, 2010 – Just days before this year’s Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival (POW Fest) is scheduled to kick off, the world watched as Kathryn Bigelow took home the Oscar for Best Director for her film “The Hurt Locker”. It was a historic moment, as this was the first time the Academy has bestowed this coveted honor to a woman in its 82 years of awards.
“I think Barbra Streisand said it best, ‘The time has come.’ “shared Tara Johnson-Medinger, Executive Director for POW Fest. “Sitting on the edge of my seat as Kathryn’s name was announced was a significant moment for me as a woman filmmaker and it will serve as a huge part of my inspiration going forward.”
Bigelow - who personally previewed “The Hurt Locker” to a captivated POW Fest audience last summer - surprised many by not using the Oscar platform to discuss the opportunity and recognition disparities that exist for women in the entertainment industry. What she really wants, is what all women in the arts want - to be recognized for their exceptional contributions, not for their gender.
Unfortunately, we’re not there yet, and that is one of the reasons that POW Fest exists. While the festival’s contributors include Oscar winners and Hollywood heavy hitters, special attention is also paid to dynamic young filmmakers and outstanding local talent in Portland ’s burgeoning film industry. This week’s festival showcases films made by talented women filmmakers from around the world, as well as our own backyard.
The films and festivities commence this Thursday, March 18th and there is something for everyone. In addition to the thought provoking lineup of independent film and documentaries, youth film and family programming, there will be opportunities to participate in filmmaker panels and talk with filmmakers about their craft. See you there!