If Not Us, Who?

Andres Veiel's If Not Us, Who? (Germany, 2011) - 2011LOLA 5 nominations. So drenched in detail it ends up losing its main dramatic thread, "If Not Us Who" attempts to unravel the messy, decade-long relationship between radical-left poster girl Gudrun Ensslin and writer Bernward Vesper. This feature debut by eminent documaker Andres Veiel ("Black Box BRD") strains to distinguish itself in the shadow of two other major films about Red Army Faction figures, 2002's "Baader" and 2008's "The Baader Meinhof Complex." Sadly, despite some impressive perfs, particularly from Lena Lauzemis as Ensslin, Veiel's take lacks kick, or even the kitschy appeal of its forebears. Pic should do OK domestically but bomb offshore. 2011BERic, 2011LOLA, 2012PALM. RATING: 7.