The Legend of Rita (2001)

Synopsis: West Germany; the early 1990s. A terrorist gang bursts into a bank. "Hi guys, we're the robbers," says Rita Vogt (Bibiana Beglau), "We're nationalizing the economy." As they flee, Rita stops to... West Germany; the early 1990s. A terrorist gang bursts into a bank. "Hi guys, we're the robbers," says Rita Vogt (Bibiana Beglau), "We're nationalizing the economy." As they flee, Rita stops to give money to a street-person. These are not your average bank robbers. In THE LEGEND OF RITA, based on the exploits of the real-life Baader-Meihof group, director Volker Schlöndorff explores the life of a terrorist left stranded by time. Fired by a sense of justice, Rita joins a terrorist gang and falls in love with its leader (Harald Schott). Life is a swirl of activity--robbing banks, traveling (from Berlin to Paris and Beruit), pulling jailbreaks, being pursued by the police. But then, needing to go underground, the gang seeks help from the Stasi, East Germany's secret police. Rita obtains a false identity (a "legend") from a Stasi officer (Martin Wuttke). It is the first of her many legends as she struggles to find her way in the East. Schlöndorff gets fine performances from Nadja Uhl as a rebellious young factory worker who befriends Rita, and Alexander Beyer as a student who loves Rita but can't accept her past. And, in her feature film debut, the vibrant Beglau won best actress award at the Berlin film festival. [More]

Starring: Bibiana Beglau, Martin Wuttke, Harold Schrott, Alexander Beyer

Starring: Bibiana Beglau, Martin Wuttke, Harold Schrott, Alexander Beyer, Jenny Schilly, Mario Irrek, Thomas Arnold, Franca Kastein, Deitrich Korner, Alexander Hosfeld, Rudolf Donath, Monika Pietsch

Director: Volker Schlöndorff

Director: Volker Schlöndorff
Screenwriter: Wolfgang Kohlhaase, Volker Schlöndorff
Studio: Kino International

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