I found this film in a roundabout way after stumbling upon mention of Rosa in William Shirer's "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich."

Indeed, the movie beautifully encapsulates the upheaval of the Weimar Republic, that uncertain period between Germany's defeat in World War I and the horrors of Hitler.

At the biopic's heart is revolutionary socialist Rosa (Barbara Sukowa), a brilliant orator who questions the status quo -- "How is it that some people may decide the fate of others?" -- and envisions, yes, a world without war. Although born to privilege, she risks death at every turn, be it in the tumultuous streets of Berlin or before a hastily assembled firing squad.

Ms. Sukowa's portrayal is illuminating, as we observe a fiery soul in all her facets. But first and foremost, there's the indefatigable dreamer. When Rosa's brother visits her behind bars -- "It doesn't make sense to be in jail for a lost cause" -- she responds, "It only seems that way; we need patience and good spirits!" Who among us doesn't need to hear such words?

Mid-40ish Rosa appreciates children, animals, and plants, and yearns for a baby of her own, but her unpredictable existence withholds it. The mentor she loved and trusted, fellow firebrand Leo Jogiches (David Olbrychski), expediently betrays her, and then can't fathom why she's upset, and Rosa finds herself alone.

"Did you sleep with her, without loving her?"

"How little you know me."

"I don't want to be indebted to anyone!"

Rosa finds comfort with a younger, apolitical man -- "How can you love as ungainly a duck as me?" -- as she watches her dreams for society disintegrate -- "There will be war, and most socialists will join up." Indeed, with a wolf at the door, who sits down to peruse political philosophy?

Yet, the consolations of nature sustain our heroine, perched in her prison-yard garden, as unflaggingly she aspires to prop up others: "My dear, don't live like a squashed frog!"

I found a soulmate in Rosa as I watched her weather storms. When she confides, "I have enough courage for myself, but when something happens to someone else, my courage fails me," is there a mother or sister who doesn't identify?

Rosa's scenes with her cat, Mimi, are revelatory; as a non-pet person myself, I was mesmerized.

I love that Rosa questions the givens of our lives, never surrendering.

"Before us lies the greatest task mankind has ever attempted."

"Don't shoot."

"I was, I am, I will be."

The movie ends on a shattering note, as we can glimpse the specter of what was to seize the world, in Naziism. May God have mercy on humanity...

"Rosa Luxemburg" is probably one of the most interesting and controversial characters in German history and here she gets her tribute movie. Initially, Rainer Werner Fassbinder was intended to make this one with Jane Fonda playing the title character, but as we all know he died prematurely and Margarete von Trotta took over with Helena Sukowa playing the main part. Both got a fair share of awards recognition (probably worked on several other projects together because of that) and the movie also won Best Film at the German Film Awards roughly 30 years ago. It was not the right decision I guess. I am not a great fan of Sukowa I must say, but she is bearable in here. I remember her being downright bad as Hannah Arendt recently, but in this much older work here, she is solid for the most part. She does not bring any greatness that could justify her awards for this work, not at all, but at least she kept herself from constantly going over the top, so that there were only a few cringeworthy moments involving her acting. But I also think, she does not prove she has particularly great range and this mediocre lead performance cost the film a lot as she is basically in every scene.

Then, you have to say in her favor that von Trotta's script isn't really up to the challenge either. There are good moments, but as a whole it simply is not enough for a movie that almost runs for 2 hours. This is particularly disappointing as Rosa Luxemburg really would have deserved a lead actress with more talent and consequently a movie with better quality. I guess we have to live with that for now. I may be a bit biased here as the years before 1933 in the 20th century, even as a German citizen, never felt that interesting to me as I hoped they would be, but I also need to state that this film here did not succeed in sparkling my interest. There were many moments during which the film dragged and it lacked consistency in convincing storytelling. The duo von Trotta / Sukowa is one that still has to impress me. This one not being as bad as the previously mentioned Hannah Arendt will not cut the cake. It is a missed opportunity and I do not recommend the watch.