Hannah Arendt (2012)

A look at the life of philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt, who reported for The New Yorker on the war crimes trial of the Nazi Adolf Eichmann.

Compelling portrayal is mostly to Barbara Sukowa's credit, who delivers a remarkable performance, but otherwise direction is messy and inconsequential.

Maltin**1/2: "Impassioned but flawed biopic...Yet another one of von Trotta's thought-provoking portayals of strong, complex women, but too much is left unexplained. You have to read the end credits  to know that Arendt's American pal and supporter (McTeer) is none other than novelist-activist Mary McCarthy."

Lola (1981)

In post-war West Germany, the charming Von Bohm is appointed a city's new Building Commissioner, but his morality is tested when he unknowingly falls in love with a brothel worker, Lola, the paid mistress of a corrupt property developer.

From memory: Excellently produced, unusually stylized, but not quite original tale with a cast of Germany's foremost actors is at best when recreating the post-war atmosphere.

Halliwell*: "Blue Angel country is the setting for this over-predictable fable from a director whose films always have interest."

Maltin***1/2: "Brilliantly directed and edited chronicle...Striking, unusual use of lighting and color."

 

Die bleierne Zeit (1981)

Two sisters both fight for women's rights. Juliane is a journalist and Marianne a terrorist. When Marianne is jailed, Juliane feels obligated to help her despite their differing views on how to live.

Intense and affecting analysis of the sisters' relationship which also reflects important political issues in Germany at the time; the cast is excellent.

Halliwell*: "...this is a suppositional account of how two well-brought- up girls can develop so differently."

Maltin***1/2: "Profound, multileveled, and memorable chronicle...Superbly acted, a must-see."

Atomic Blonde (2017)

An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.

Highly stylized comic adaptation delivers the goods with self-consciousness, but basically it's just the usual fist fights, car chases and shoot-outs.