Ode to Cologne

Wolfgang Niedecken's pub-rock-style band BAP, formed in the '70s in Cologne, has been through many changes in size, shape, ethnicity and repertoire over the years, but never strays far from social commentary and always performs its originals in the local dialect 'Kölsch'. This rockumentary uses archive and newsreel clips to show the band evolving in response to social/political changes and features highlights from a 'retrospective' concert in an old picture-palace in Essen; Niedecken emerges as a fine, committed writer with a likeable penchant for Bob Dylan and Kinks covers. Wenders brings very little to the party: just a couple of Steadicam operators and the hopelessly lame idea of having three actors sleepwalk through pretentious little dramatisations of some of the songs. Oh, and one of the worst English titles ever.