"Rosa Luxemburg" is an inspiring and powerful portrait of Luxemburg, a Polish-German activist and Socialist/Communist who lived from 1872-1919. She was murdered during the unsuccessful Spartacist rebellion in Germany, right after Germany's defeat in World War I.
I don't know much about Luxemburg, but as the film portrays her, she was a very forceful, compassionate, and strident devotee of peace and justice for the working class. She was a member of the Socialist Democratic Party in Germany, and she also spent some time in her native Poland. Apparently she was also Jewish. Her longtime lover and working companion was also a Socialist writer who was Polish.
"Rosa Luxemburg" follows many of the major events in Rosa's life. We see her giving speeches, writing articles, and pressing the Socialist Democratic party elders for quicker movements toward "revolution." Ultimately, Rosa wanted an overthrow of the "old order," meaning the monarchic/industrial/fascist forces, and direct control of the political system by the workers themselves. She did not advocate violent means to do this, but nevertheless was painted as a dangerous radical and was thrown in jail nine times.
I enjoyed this film immensely and found it sad but extremely important. Viewers who enjoy this film might also check out "The Burning Season," "Entertaining Angels," and "Daens."
