Sometimes we go to the movies to laugh. Other times to cry. In the case of Margarethe von Trotta’s Hannah Arendt, it’s the perfect film for those who are up for thinking about thinking. A biopic about the great German-American political theorist, the film focuses on Arendt’s coverage of Adolf Eichmann’s trial in Jerusalem during which time she developed her controversial theory on the “banality of evil.” Von Trotta, a member of the New German Cinema Movement, handles the complex material brilliantly and Barbara Sukowa is superb in the title role. If you’re up for digesting some heavier fare, we strongly encourage you to catch this captivating portrait.

Hannah Arendt is a Zeitgeist Films release.

(Originally appeared on Flavorpill.com in May 2013)