Katharina Blum: Film Analysis

The film is a tale of a woman driven to madness and murder as a result of a false and misleading report by news magazine – the News. Katharina Blum attended a party at the home of her friend, and met Ludwig Gotten, who has been under police surveillance for robbery. After dancing with him, she takes him to her apartment where they spend the night and helps him escape out of the building by showing him and escape route. The next morning, the police question her regarding Ludwig 's whereabouts and whether she was involved in any criminal activities on his behalf. As she leaves with the police, several pictures of her are taken by a photographer from News. Totges, a report from News, then publishes a report accusing her of being a communist. …show more content…
In the film, the press shows off its prowess by publicly demoralizing individuals within the society. The press publishes articles with false stories that tarnish out the image and dignity. The press misrepresents the truth by showing the public that Katharina engages casually in sexual activities and that she is of an improper behavior when in fact she is quite the opposite. In the film, the actual Katharina is nicknamed by her friends us "the nun", an indication of her being the opposite (Zipes, 1977). The press also distributes false and misleading information on communism in other western countries, which spreads fear to those against the accepted social system, hence persuading the majority to oppress potential threat to their power and supporting the existing …show more content…
The public expected a rapid growth in the economy, improved living standards and expanding economic influence through of industrialization. However, the nature of the state which provides grounds for corruption, and selfish regime worsen the state 's economy. The industrialists operated by self-interest, profit control and hunger for power. They used their powers and financial influence to abuse their position and oppress the minority, as shown by actions of two industrialists Luding and Straubleder. The failings of capitalism were intensified by allowing power to fall into the hands of the small elite who are selected not through democracy but by their influence and social positions. The film narrates the impact of the press by those who are in power. The entrepreneurs, Luding and Straubleder, are not threated by the news of the press due to their manipulation of the press. In the narrative, Luding tells Boma not to be worried by the news since he has taken care of it (Zipes,