La Prise d'otages de Gladbeck

As "Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis" (2022 release from Germany; 91 min) opens, it is August 15, 1988" and we are in Gladbeck, Germany. Two deranged criminals have just robbed a small branch of Deutsche Bank, and decide to take the 2 bank employees as hostages. They demand 300,000 Deutsche Mark and a BMW as getaway car. It marks the beginning of a couple of shocking days...

Couple of comments: this is directed by veteran and well-respected German documentarian Volker Heise. As the film notes at the very beginning, the entire movie consists of actual footage and audio from 1988. No talking heads looking back and commenting. This is all happening in real life. And some of it is absolutely surreal. How 2 kidnappers were to in effect hold an entire country hostage, with plenty of help from the media's actions AND the police's inaction it must be said. As we watch these events unfold, I, and I suspect many other viewers, had absolutely no idea how it would all unfold, and that makes this such a compelling documentary. Afterwards both the media and the police were heavily criticized for their roles in the hostage drama.

"Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis" premiered on Netflix two weeks ago, and I just caught up on it. If you have any interest in true crime documentaries, or in a late 80s time capsule of what West Germany was like at that time (one year before the reunification), I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Honestly, the police in this situation were terrible! This should be shown to every police force in the world on how not to manage a hostage situation. Unbelievable!

This is just unbelivable. We are watching footage of a press without morals and decency, only the pictures and they speak for themselves. The bad police work, what the victims must have felt... just an unbelivable event.

This was a very compelling and intense watch!

Mainly because this documentary was made with only authentic news fragments, press footage and police communication without any narration.

The disgusting behavior of the press and the public and the amateurish way the police handled this situation made my blood boil.

Those interactions with the hostage takers and hostages were so bizarre to see... You learn to know the hostages, feel for them and hope for a good outcome. Even though you know it won't end well for everyone involved.

It all felt a bit too real (?)... :s Very disturbing!

This one will stick with me for a while... definitely worth watching!

This is a bizarre and enthralling watch. I recommend it. But what it confirmed to me is how the media are parasitic scum and only getting worse. Yes it is their job to report on something like this, but not get involved in it and not place themselves right in the middle of it hindering any attempt the police would have of controlling the situation. Disgraceful, and we've seemed to have learnt very little as the media are still doing this crap to this day. Becoming the story not just reporting on it. Journalism is dead. Has been for a while now.