If Not Us, Who?

In the early 60s, Bernward Vesper and fellow university student Gudrun Ensslin begin a passionate love in the stifling atmosphere of provincial West Germany. Sensitive to the increasing restlessness of the times, the fiery couple lash out at the denial regarding their fathers‘ roles in Hitler‘s Third Reich. Dedicated to the power of the written word, Bernward and Gudrun found a publishing house for controversial political works and become part of the spreading global uprising: „If not us, who; If not now, when?“ But discontentment with the world takes its toll on their tumultuous relationship. By the late 60s, Gudrun has joined rebellious Andreas Baader‘s pro-violence cause and Bernward risks his sanity by using psychedelic drugs in his struggles to finally write the novel committed to changing the world… Based on the emotional true story of an explosive era.

Director: Andres Veiel, Germany, 2010/2011

From the Goethe-Institut New York