Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis is a German drama film directed by Kilian Riedhof and released in 2018. The film is based on real events that took place in August 1988, when two armed robbers, Dieter Degowski and Hans-Jürgen Rösner, attempted to rob a bank in the town of Gladbeck.
The robbery quickly turned into a hostage crisis as the two robbers took several people hostage and fled from the police in a car with their hostages. The robbers demanded a safe passage to the Netherlands and a plane to take them to Libya.
The hostage crisis became a media circus, with journalists flocking to Gladbeck to cover the event. The media coverage made it difficult for the police to negotiate with the robbers, as they were constantly being pressured to take action.
The crisis ended in a deadly shootout on a highway near the Dutch border, where both robbers and a hostage were killed. The incident sparked a public outcry and raised questions about the police's handling of the crisis.
Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis is an intense and gripping film that provides a chilling portrayal of the events that took place in Gladbeck. It features strong performances from the cast, particularly from Alexander Scheer as Hans-Jürgen Rösner and Sascha Alexander Gersak as Dieter Degowski. The film is a stark reminder of the dangers of media sensationalism and the devastating consequences that can result from a botched police operation.
