BANDITS (Bande à part)

"Bandits" (not to be confused with the French New Wave film "Bande à part") is a 1997 German musical drama that I stumbled upon recently, and it’s honestly such a hidden gem. The story follows four female inmates who form a band while in prison. When they get a shot at performing outside, they make a run for it, turning into rock ‘n’ roll outlaws on the road, chased by both the police and sudden pop stardom. It’s a perfect mash-up of road movie and heist, with a real undercurrent of ’90s rebellion.

What stood out for me was the distinct atmosphere — the cinematography excels at capturing both the grittiness of the girls’ fugitive journey and the sweet freedom of their music. There’s a lot of handheld camera work and almost guerilla-style shots that make you feel like you’re on this wild ride alongside the band. The music itself is catchy and gritty, with songs co-written and performed by the actresses themselves, which adds a layer of sincerity that you don’t often get in musicals.

The performances are full of charisma, particularly Katja Riemann and Jasmin Tabatabai, whose chemistry as band members really anchors the film. The supporting cast never overshadows the four leads, which keeps the emotional focus tight. Not every subplot lands — it occasionally gets bogged down trying to juggle the cops-and-robbers antics with exploring the women’s pasts, but the film’s heart is clearly in the drama among the band.

Some musical moments veer a little too much into melodrama, and the pacing flags a bit in the last third, but the movie always bounces back with another driving song or a spontaneous burst of energy. The raw, unpolished vibe actually ends up being part of its charm. This isn’t a polished Broadway-style musical — think more along the lines of "The Commitments" meets "Thelma & Louise," but distinctly German and female-fronted.

You would enjoy this if you’re into stories about underdogs, enjoy indie/alt rock music from the ’90s, or want something a little messier and less predictable than your average musical. There’s a real lived-in quality here that makes the band’s fleeting freedom and hopefulness feel earned — and the soundtrack genuinely rocks.