THE STATE I AM IN (DIE INNERE SICHERHEIT)

Germany, 2000, 100 minutes, Colour.
Julia Hummer, Barbara Auer, Richy Mueller.
Directed by Christian Petzold.

The State I Am In is a contemporary story about former terrorists who are on the run. The complication is that in trying to settle down after their terrorist activities in Germany, they now have a 15-year-old daughter. The film opens with them in Portugal wanting to get to South America. However, they are discovered and have to continue on the run, trying to get help from friends in Germany, some of whom reject them, others who are caught. The complication with their daughter is that she is beginning to rebel, assert herself, fall in love. They take refuge in a German town in an abandoned mansion. However, while their daughter has told them that this is a refuge, the basis of her story is a lie from the boy that she has fallen in love with. This becomes even more complicated when she meets the boy again.

The couple are still on the run - but their daughter has to make decisions.

An interesting psychological drama - but also an interesting German social question about what happens to terrorists as they age and try to settle in society. This was the theme, done even more strongly, in Sidney Lumet's 1988 film, Running on Empty, with Christine Lahti, Judd Hirsch and River Phoenix.

1. A psychological thriller? The aftermath of the terrorism of the `70s and `80s? In Germany? The question of what happens to terrorists as they move into middle age and have a family and want to settle and be unknown?

2. Portuguese settings, the isolation, the beach? Germany, the countryside, the towns, the mansion? Credible settings for this kind of story? The musical score - and the songs, especially those listened to by Jeanne?

3. The title - the English title, the German title meaning Inner Security?

4. The situation of the family, their relationships, living by translation, Jeanne and her abilities? The holiday at the seaside? The possibility of getting tickets for Brazil? The edginess of the family? Jeanne and her being bored, wanting to meet friends her own age, the encounter with Heinrich, his telling the story of the house? Their suddenly having to be on the run after the robbery of their apartment and the box at the station?

5. Friends in Germany, going to seek help, rejection? Jeanne and her listening to the music with the daughter of the house - but on the run again?

6. Going to the mansion, settling in, keeping guard? The continued need for money? Keeping guard, the parents being confined to the house? Jeanne and her freedom: shopping, but stealing the CDs and the clothes, the alarm going off? Her going to the school, watching night and fog with the evocation of German history and the concentration camps? The chance encounter with Heinrich? His discovery of her, the truth about him, going to his room, the sexual relationship? Later seeing him when she was on guard, her abuse and violence towards him and his confusion? Her later return, trying to explain the truth to him - but finally deciding to disappear?

7. The plan for robbing the bank, Jeanne's role, the actual robbing, the money, the mother confessing that she had killed someone?

8. Jeanne and her love for her parents, love for Heinrich? Ultimately making her decision for her parents?

9. The police closing in, the future of such a family? The consequences for terrorists and their actions, growing older, wanting to settle down, family and in society?