Hans-Joachim Klein: My Life as a Terrorist

As one of the terrorists who stormed the Viennese OPEC Headquarters in 1975, Hans-Joachim Klein was vilified by the press but celebrated as a hero by various left-leaning politicians and celebrities (Simone Signoret, for one). Hans-Joachim Klein: My Life as a Terrorist documents Klein’s various misadventures and experiences as an anarchist, and places such antics into context via discussions of his less-than-wholesome upbringing. Filmmaker Alexander Oey relies primarily on conversations with Klein to propel the movie forward, though Oey does punctuate certain stories with stock footage (ie news coverage of that infamous day in ’75). But as fascinating as the opening 15 minutes are – in which Klein recounts his experiences working alongside the notorious terrorist Carlos the Jackal – the movie is ultimately undone by Oey’s decision to offer up an all-encompassing look at Klein’s life. While some of Klein’s tales are undoubtedly quite interesting, there’s also a distinct feeling of repetition within the proceedings (and at a running time of just 70 minutes, the movie often feels longer than it needs to be). In the end, it seems likely that Hans-Joachim Klein: My Life as a Terrorist will hold more appeal for history buffs than casual viewers – although the movie does succeed as an introduction to Klein and his exploits.

** out of ****