Freedom of expression and the freedom of peaceful assembly are cornerstones of western civilisation, set down in The European Convention On Human Rights.

The people have a voice and they should be allowed to use it – to decry injustice or hold those in power to account.

In June 1967, a demonstration in Berlin against the state visit of the Shah of Persia descended into chaos when baton-wielding police apparently charged the protesters, causing crowds to spill onto the streets.

One young man was needlessly shot and killed by police, galvanizing mounting support for the anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist student movement, which vehemently opposed Germany’s perceived support of American imperialism during the Vietnam war.

Radicals within the movement formed their own splinter group and the Red Army Faction (RAF) was born, comprising armed resistance fighters with a propensity for violence to challenge the country’s political status quo.

The Baader Meinhof Complex relives this turbulent era in recent German history, based on the celebrated book by Stefan Aust.

Opening with a shocking recreation of the 1967 clash between police and protesters, Uli Edel’s film tries to remain at a distance from the characters, neither judging nor celebrating them as their reckless actions reap terrible consequences.

Left-wing journalist Ulrike Meinhof (Martina Gedeck), who writes stirring reports on the stormy political climate, is a founding member of the RAF.

She becomes disillusioned with the student movement’s inability to affect lasting change and aligns herself instead with Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu) and his girlfriend Gudrun Ensslin (Johanna Wokalek).

Leaving behind her children, Ulrike joins the other founding members in El Fatah, Jordan, where they undergo intensive conditioning at a Palestinian military training camp.

The students return home to Berlin and put their newfound skills to use, robbing banks and wreaking havoc in the capital.

As the death toll rises and the media turns against the RAF, Horst Herold (Bruno Ganz) from the German police force marshals his officers to arrest the ringleaders and quell the uprising.

Selected by Germany as its official entry for the 2009 Academy Awards as Best Film In A Foreign Language, The Baader Meinhof Complex is an impressive if somewhat exhausting history lesson.

Edel’s direction cannot be faulted, especially in the key set pieces such as the assassination of Rudi Dutschke or Andreas’ capture after a standoff with the police.

However, tension noticeably dissipates and pacing reduces to a crawl in the final half hour after the death of one key figure.

Gedeck, Bleibtreu and Wokalek are excellent, inhabiting their roles with passion.

The film dodges the conspiracy theories surrounding the deaths of RAF members in solitary confinement.

The intimation here is that Andreas and co committed suicide when the hijacking of a commercial airliner full of German tourists ends in capitulation.

The truth remains almost as elusive as some of the RAF leadership.

• Release Date: Friday 14 November 2008
• Certificate: 18
• Runtime: 149mins