Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Adventurer]

Page last updated at 15:32 GMT, Tuesday, 1 April 2008 16:32 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version

German war film challenges taboo
By Tristana Moore
BBC News, Berlin



The Red Baron is shown becoming disillusioned about war

He is a handsome, blond, young pilot - and he's not your typical baddie.

In the new film The Red Baron, which had its premiere in Berlin on Monday night, Germany's legendary flying ace, Manfred von Richthofen, is portrayed as an emotional, sensitive man.

A replica of the Fokker triplane from World War I was planted outside the CineStar cinema in Berlin's Potsdamer Platz, as crowds gathered for the traditional red-carpet welcome.

Funnily enough, although the film has been billed as a taboo-breaker, given the fact that von Richthofen is depicted as a heroic figure, many young Germans have hardly heard of him.

The pilots, who come from an upper-class background, behave like spoilt children.

They take their fur coats into the cockpits of the fighters.

But as the war progresses, and the casualties mount, Von Richthofen's initial idealism fades.

The young pilot, known as "the Red Baron", who painted his plane red, falls in love with a nurse, played by the British actress Lena Headey.

REDBARON

[Ya-ta Boy]

It sounds like an interesting movie. I'll admit about all I know about the Red Baron is that he is Snoopy's archenemy. I'd like to know more about the real guy. I've been reading a bit of WWI lit lately, probably because the 100th anniversary is coming up soon.

[lastat06513]