Bandits (1997)

“Abandoned men are dangerous.”

“Bandits” is a German film with English subtitles (and it’s not to be confused with the Bruce Willis film). A prison reformer decides to entertain a convention of lawmakers with a band composed solely of female prison inmates. The idea is that convicts should be reintegrated into society “using their natural talents.” Four inmates have formed a loosely knit band–called The Bandits–mainly due to their enjoyment of music, but the band members don’t particular like each other or get along. On the way to the convention, the women escape. Once on the run, they achieve legendary outlaw status by robbing and playing free concerts for the masses. Determined police detectives are hot on the trial, and as the women elude the police, the band’s popularity and fame grows. Soon everyone is buying the band’s CD and listening to their music.

The four band members are all different types. Luna is the very tough, aggressive guitarist and singer. Angel is much softer. Marie has a death wish, and Emma is in jail for killing someone. As the film develops, each band member’s past is revealed, and these revelations create tight bonds within the group.

The best part of this film has to be the music (although the lyrics are sung in English). Unfortunately, the whole “free concerts” thing is also more than a bit exaggerated. Ok, these girls can take over a stage full of equipment, and they may be able to steal instruments, but some of the rooftop concerts (for example) push the limits of credibility. The notion of the growth of their popularity as they careen across Germany is well done, and I enjoyed the intriguing and irony-laded results of their fame. The police hunt for the band (for being escaped convicts), but fans also hunt them. As a result, the band becomes so famous that their notoriety makes their escape problematic, and the fact that the Bandits crave and encourage attention from their fans doesn’t make it easier. The film is nicely paced and well acted, and the creative ending endorses the idea that ultimately the band’s message is of social protest rather than a shot at fame. Sadly, however, the characters cannot rise above cliches, and the film does not achieve complete originality.