Combat Girls

Kriegerin/Combat Girls is the last film of a kind that has become one of Germany's finest exports. I am thinking of films like "Das Experiment" and "Die Welle" which, directly or indirectly, investigate what lies behind a dictatorship like Nazism and the dangers of falling into one again, which sometimes may seem far away. With this film, this time we are taken very close to the reality of a small (supposedly East) German town where far-right extremists rule the place and intimidate migrants. The point of view is entirely coincident with the main character, Marisa (award-winner Ukrainian-born Alina Levshin), who plays the passionate girlfriend of one of the gang's most violent and dangerous subjects. Her acting is amazing and, as already stated by another reviewer, it brings the film to a totally different level giving it the effectiveness of a documentary. The film is essentially about a girl who seems to know very well what she wants (to the extent that her whole body is covered in tattoos which are also political statements), while in fact some events will force her to reconsider not only her set of values, but also a relationship with a man whose deep love quickly turns into the deepest hate. On the background, there is a side story about Marisa's dying Nazi grandfather. She doesn't want to accept that he had been violent to her own wife before she was born, and that relates directly to the violence she in turn has chosen to surround herself with. A 15 years old seeking to be accepted into the gang is also dragged into this spiral of hate and violence - a consequence of her dominating father - until she understand what that really means. The third girl of the gang is always in the background, she's very passive and hardly talks and shows a melancholy which turns out to be a result of life's injustice. This is in my opinion the best German film since Gegen die Wand/Head On. Both educational and a piece of -literally- screaming art. A must see!

I heard someone say that the movie can be educational? The truth is that I would not watch this movie for educational purposes and not even with children under 18 years of age.

The morality is clear and that is why the movie does not emphasize on certain things. I didn't like this approach at all!, it is too black and white, and too much violence.

It's not just racism, it's the way of treating it, racism with violence, the worst there is. This is a hateful group of young people lost in life, whose brain has been spinned and they have no way out, the only thing that makes sense to them is violence, and on top of that they look for it, violence, and provoke it, it is the only way to feel power for them. But what do they care? They have weapons and explode at the slightest, everyone fears them, and rightly so. It would scare me too, a lot! Even the parents and grandfather scare me!

What I found even more racist and frustrating is treating a young man from Pakistan like a real idiot, for seeking help from the person who hates him and has tried to kill him.

The acting is good and realistic and this is the most positive thing I can add. Even the music seemed terrible to my taste.

The movie will not resolve everything or not in a satisfying kind of way. At the contrary, it lacks a sense of justice in one way or another, big time!

As I say, I still can't believe I've seen the entire movie. If you can stand it this story has the ability to drag you in by the very rough and emotional violent ride.

During the first few minutes I sat with my heart racing wanting to kill them all! Judge for yourself.

Very good by all means. Done marvelously in the technical and artistic way. And did I say very touching? The movie has dark and very heavy structure. It looks so authentic that involves you easily and then make you upset. It gives a smart portrait of the local neo-nazi movement in one German town but also all the social background that causes the phenomena of it. The basis of the whole movement was actually shown through the character of the main character. The ideals of its members are the same but the inner struggles of the individuals are individual. Fight between good and bad, between love and hate depicted beautifully followed by excellent acting. I also found the music very good. Excellent work! Keep on working.

A film about right wing racism in Germany and a groan is predictable. While following the narrative of such stories, the cast and the style of the film offer a new perspective.

The film is presented in a semi-documentary style, with scenes and transitions which are more like a documentary. The near realism - or TV like visual style - makes the building of the story interesting and unpredictable.

The present is mixed with the back story of the lead character which allows for insight without her telling us because she can't.

The cast have seemingly inhabited the roles and the script and together with the camera work, which puts the audience in the center of things, adds to the directness of the film.

The story of racist violence is counterpointed with violence at other levels between the German characters and their families. In this grim environment a brief reconciliation emerges but is quickly shattered. The ending is almost poetic in an ugly place.

A very fine achievement.

Stunning representation of the Neo-Nazi community, and the trauma they impose upon people