Rosa L.

Me and my partner were some of the few people fortunate enough to see this film as part of the Bird's Eye Film festival 2011 in London. The film isn't available to purchase on DVD with subtitles, so it is really just German speaking people who have access to it. This is a real shame as Rosa Luxemburg is a cinematic and historical gem.

Rosa Luxemburg is a true hero and a great thinker, who deserves a spotlight in the history of the early 20th century. Unfortunately she is too often forgotten and only the likes of Ernst and Marx are remembered. Here is someone who is really trying to change her fate and the fate of her sisters and brothers. All of this is beautifully brought to life by von Trotta in this film and many of Luxemburgs writings and speeches are used throughout. The performance by Barbara Sukowa as Rosa is amazing and she really merges with the character she portrays. I think this is a beautiful film and I would wish someone would give it a good makeover and preserve it for future generations. This is a film, which should not get lost - rather it should be remembered.

Unlike her male contemporaries, von Trotta's films are often hard to find and virtually unknown to most people - even those who have heard of her contemporaries like Schlöndorff, Fassbinder and Herzog. This is a mystery to me, as I have seen a number of her films and she manages time and time again to make raw, challenging and emotional films about history. At the end of the screening there was also an interview with von Trotta in which one could see her intelligence and passion for film. I am really looking forward to see her next film - a project on the philosopher Hannah Arendt.

Rosa eats a sandwich whilst Karl's playing a piano.

Karl eats a sandwich whilst Rosa's trying to play a piano.

Rosa tries to nip off a piece of a piano whilst Karl's making himself a sandwich.

Karl's eating a sandwich whilst Rosa renews a piano.

Rosa's making herself a sandwich whilst Karl plays a renewed piano.

Karl's looking out the window, sees a car with buns, walks down to the street, takes one.

Rosa's eating her sandwich and all the remaining ingredients.

Karl is not coming back.

Rosa agonizingly pondering what to make Karl a sandwich from when he'll return.

However, Karl does not return.

Rosa looking out the window, sees a car with buns, feels that her stomach is full.

Karl is yet not coming back.

Rose goes out into the street, she is greeted by a snotty brat with his right hand raised at an angle of 135 degrees.

.. And Then There Were None.

It's not a good or 'big' movie. If it were a comedy, value would have increased significantly. If it were Zukova in role of Liebknecht, for example. You shouldn't even stutter about the tragicomedy.

Exemplary 'historical' drama, rather mediocre. 'Historical' in meaning of your Grandma's buns. With the prefix "melo-" - just a prefix, not an independent, equal part of the word. Melody is lacking.

Kind of 'redemption' could be a bit speculative correlation between nine Rosa Luxemburg's imprisonments (although Barbara Zukova is still represented here, just like in "The Last King of Scotland" - there's only Forest Whitaker, not Idi Amin) and widespread and actively fueled for symbolic, mystical and in all the 'occult' (o\accidentally-cultural) myth of the nine symphonies.

One of the cases when, haven't skip a frame, only to conclude that it was, is and will "not worth the time."

"Rosa Luxemburg" is an inspiring and powerful portrait of Luxemburg, a Polish-German activist and Socialist/Communist who lived from 1872-1919. She was murdered during the unsuccessful Spartacist rebellion in Germany, right after Germany's defeat in World War I.

I don't know much about Luxemburg, but as the film portrays her, she was a very forceful, compassionate, and strident devotee of peace and justice for the working class. She was a member of the Socialist Democratic Party in Germany, and she also spent some time in her native Poland. Apparently she was also Jewish. Her longtime lover and working companion was also a Socialist writer who was Polish.

"Rosa Luxemburg" follows many of the major events in Rosa's life. We see her giving speeches, writing articles, and pressing the Socialist Democratic party elders for quicker movements toward "revolution." Ultimately, Rosa wanted an overthrow of the "old order," meaning the monarchic/industrial/fascist forces, and direct control of the political system by the workers themselves. She did not advocate violent means to do this, but nevertheless was painted as a dangerous radical and was thrown in jail nine times.

I enjoyed this film immensely and found it sad but extremely important. Viewers who enjoy this film might also check out "The Burning Season," "Entertaining Angels," and "Daens."

B. Sukowa and D. Olbrychski (The Drum) play the famous german revolutionaries, that wanted to shape another germany after the Kaiser's empire and the German Republic of Weimar. Many resistances have been shaped out clearly by directrice Lady von Trotta. So she is in great tradition of West-german-historical-movie like W. Petersen. Her stars are very capable: Daniel Olbrychski and Hannes Jaenicke. Intellectual, fevering and never boring.

A subtle, honest, direct and precise crafted portrait of Rosa Luxemburg, offering to Barbara Sukowa the opportunity to create a powerful character, exploring her determination, believes, fragility , wisdome.

In some measure, her rehabilitation in fair terms, by a great director who has the profound wisedome to offer more than a feminist manifesto but the clear image of German Social Democracy of the beginning of XX century, the attitudes of men and the effort to prevent the war.

Not last, the huge and deep loneliness of Rosa , in political activity like in private life.

Easy to define it as a gem, it is a special , so admirable portrait of a revolutionary.