I will look beyond the Left-Right and East-West angle. It is the war beyond these minor differences. And as it comes out in the end, the Villain of the state wasn't really what was depicted almost till the very end - in fact he was more in the mold of Julian Assange - and that explains why he was shadowed but not apprehended - whereas everyone he came in contact with were treated like lepers (with apologies, for using the phrase, without intending to hurt).
But even he is the background in this movie, the carrier of the virus, the main character is the name sake Katharina Blum, the suspected infected person.
A simple and normal girl, unfortunately pretty, and desirable, had a bad marriage, and divorced. Then she became the mistress of a millionaire, who naturally showered largess on her. In a chance encounter, she was exposed to something she had never been, "Tenderness" and after the one night stand - with the Enemy of the State (who was monitored by the state), she was promptly arrested and exposed to the "judicial" interrogation.
Probably that by itself could have been somewhat bearable, but the other unbridled power too takes an undue interest. To emphasise, in today's society, there are only two unquestionably unbridled power - the Judiciary and the Media - none of which can be questioned (Freedom of Press), and when both work in the same motive, to destroy some one, the defense or sanity is difficult to maintain in face of that assault - and especially when one is really innocent, and hence even more powerless and vulnerable.
It is not that the two didn't know of their victim's innocence (they even mentioned it), but the call of 'Duty' - for one to catch the Enemy and for other the TRP, are of prime importance, some one, especially not of the 'family' is completely expendable. Though she had her supporters, her employers, her relatives, friends, but the movie displayed clearly - how with these two powers bent on a full assault, the supporters too could be forced into silence (every one has some skeleton, even if small, in some ancestral cupboard). With the press in tow, doing what it does even today, probably even more today, entirely distorting, even fabricating, if they can't selectively disclose, with a single intention - to make the case juicier - which can only come through painting the victim in darker and darker shades - of course with color.
Naturally it causes irreparable damage to the person, even if perchance the person is set free. Thankfully this movie, that's why it is masterpiece, didn't shy away from it.
There are quite a few movies on similar subject - the destruction of individuals (but though these are individuals, but the victims could be made general, since it happens with many). Each of these, Garde A Vue, Stadt ohne Mitleid (Town without pity), Salo, Death Watch, .. there are several I have come across, and none are less than masterpiece. Probably because these ring a chord ?
These movies may be seen to be promoting anarchism, being against state - but in fact they are not. Since these shows how uncontrolled power - destroys the very ones for whose sake the power had been granted to. It isn't only the state, where the anarchists hold power, the same thing happens, to the 'innocents'.
The misuse of 'Freedom of Press' of of 'Judiciary' or 'State' - which is to keep it 'Free' from other 'Powers' - makes the very people victims, for the protection of whom this 'Freedom' is given.
But even he is the background in this movie, the carrier of the virus, the main character is the name sake Katharina Blum, the suspected infected person.
A simple and normal girl, unfortunately pretty, and desirable, had a bad marriage, and divorced. Then she became the mistress of a millionaire, who naturally showered largess on her. In a chance encounter, she was exposed to something she had never been, "Tenderness" and after the one night stand - with the Enemy of the State (who was monitored by the state), she was promptly arrested and exposed to the "judicial" interrogation.
Probably that by itself could have been somewhat bearable, but the other unbridled power too takes an undue interest. To emphasise, in today's society, there are only two unquestionably unbridled power - the Judiciary and the Media - none of which can be questioned (Freedom of Press), and when both work in the same motive, to destroy some one, the defense or sanity is difficult to maintain in face of that assault - and especially when one is really innocent, and hence even more powerless and vulnerable.
It is not that the two didn't know of their victim's innocence (they even mentioned it), but the call of 'Duty' - for one to catch the Enemy and for other the TRP, are of prime importance, some one, especially not of the 'family' is completely expendable. Though she had her supporters, her employers, her relatives, friends, but the movie displayed clearly - how with these two powers bent on a full assault, the supporters too could be forced into silence (every one has some skeleton, even if small, in some ancestral cupboard). With the press in tow, doing what it does even today, probably even more today, entirely distorting, even fabricating, if they can't selectively disclose, with a single intention - to make the case juicier - which can only come through painting the victim in darker and darker shades - of course with color.
Naturally it causes irreparable damage to the person, even if perchance the person is set free. Thankfully this movie, that's why it is masterpiece, didn't shy away from it.
There are quite a few movies on similar subject - the destruction of individuals (but though these are individuals, but the victims could be made general, since it happens with many). Each of these, Garde A Vue, Stadt ohne Mitleid (Town without pity), Salo, Death Watch, .. there are several I have come across, and none are less than masterpiece. Probably because these ring a chord ?
These movies may be seen to be promoting anarchism, being against state - but in fact they are not. Since these shows how uncontrolled power - destroys the very ones for whose sake the power had been granted to. It isn't only the state, where the anarchists hold power, the same thing happens, to the 'innocents'.
The misuse of 'Freedom of Press' of of 'Judiciary' or 'State' - which is to keep it 'Free' from other 'Powers' - makes the very people victims, for the protection of whom this 'Freedom' is given.