Review by andrewbunney

Angela Merkel is a great subject. But her background story is so glossed-over in this new film that after last year's 'Looking For Merkel' by Marion Van Renterghem, it's such a disappointment.

This film is more interested in American Presidents Trump and Obama, rather than how and why a woman could come from behind the Iron Curtain and inspire the 'Free World'.

Significant to Merkel's story is that she came from East Berlin where under communism, women had much greater equality than in the so-called free west. It's a fantastic story that gives a great perspective on East Germany where the young Angela's father moved to from the west. (One reason was that protestants were more accepted in the East than in catholic West Germany, which was dominated by men and corporate capitalism which stifled the role of women.)

A highly political young woman (not covered in 'Merkel'), she was shocked that despite being an eminent physicist, she became a second-class citizen in the west and was judged on her hair and clothing (again, omitted in Merkel).

'Looking For Merkel' by Marion Van Renterghem is available on Kanopy, Vimeo and other platforms and I rate it 9.