The Legend of Rita  (2000)

Theatrical Release Information:
The Legend of Rita

Noted German director Volker Schlondorff helms this riveting exploration of 1970s West German political terrorism. The film opens with Rita (Bibiana Beglau) reminiscing to her unseen friend Tatjana of her life as a radical. Cut to a flashback of her along with her like-minded colleagues robbing a bank. Later while traveling from Beirut to East Berlin, she is carted away for questioning. When the interrogators learn of Rita's vocation, Stasi officer Erwin (Martin Wuttke) releases her and tells her to consult him if she needs help. After she botches the breakout of her boyfriend Andi (Harald Schrott from a West Berlin jail, she calls on her Stasi contact to protect the gang and provide safe passage to Beirut and later to Paris. Tension between the group members -- particularly between Andi and Rita -- soon grow strained. After Rita almost gets arrested for killing a cop, she turns to Erwin, who comes up with a different offer. Rita will stay in East Germany as a working proletarian under an assumed name. While in East Berlin, she befriends Tatjana (Nadja Uhl) who soon becomes her lover. This film was screened at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide