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Die Welle (2008)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
13 March 2008 (Germany) morePlot:
A high school teacher's unusual experiment to demonstrate to his students what life is like under a dictatorship spins horribly out of control when he forms a social unit with a life of its own. | full synopsisAwards:
3 wins & 6 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Berlin & Beyond '09 Review: "The Wave" (From JustPressPlay. 17 January 2009, 3:03 PM, PST)
Torino Film Festival Wrap Up
(From Twitch. 1 December 2008, 9:12 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Fascism is still possible and alive moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jürgen Vogel | ... | Rainer Wenger | |
| Frederick Lau | ... | Tim Stoltefuss | |
| Max Riemelt | ... | Marco | |
| Jennifer Ulrich | ... | Karo | |
| Christiane Paul | ... | Anke Wenger | |
| Jacob Matschenz | ... | Dennis | |
| Cristina do Rego | ... | Lisa | |
| Elyas M'Barek | ... | Sinan | |
| Maximilian Vollmar | ... | Bomber | |
| Max Mauff | ... | Kevin (as Maximilian Mauff) | |
| Ferdinand Schmidt-Modrow | ... | Ferdi | |
| Tim Oliver Schultz | ... | Jens | |
| Amelie Kiefer | ... | Mona | |
| Fabian Preger | ... | Kaschi | |
| Odine Johne | ... | Maja |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
107 minCountry:
GermanyLanguage:
GermanColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalCertification:
Germany:12 | Czech Republic:12 | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Sweden:11 | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 | Australia:MAFilming Locations:
Berlin, GermanyFun Stuff
Trivia:
Based on the novel "The Wave" by Todd Strasser (under the pen name Morton Rhue), a fictionalized account of the "Third Wave" teaching experiment by Ron Jones that took place in a Cubberley High School history class in Palo Alto, California in April 1967. moreGoofs:
Factual errors: Although set somewhere in western Germany, all policemen wear insignia of the state of Berlin. moreSoundtrack:
Fight The Start moreFAQ
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Die Welle details how a project on autocracy gradually leads to disastrous results. Initially without enthusiasm to teach the topic, Rainer Wegner conducts an unorthodox experiment to demonstrate to his students (equally lukewarm to start with) what life would be like under fascism. Neatly structured by days, the experiment begins with simple disciplines and grows to become an exclusive cult named "the wave" with its own uniform and salute.
Similar to his 2004 film "Before the Fall" which concerns the Nazi's seduction of youth, Dennis Gansel probes the individual psychologies that bring about uncontrollable collective movement, and how personal life is transformed by it. It offers a balanced view on an organisation like "The Wave" by enquiring whether it is a crystallisation of the students' class-free utopia (at the cost of losing individuality) or a community for those in need of belonging and empowerment.
What is frightening is that many (though not all) of them voluntarily follow the conformity through reasoning. Ironically, the mob mentality engulfing the students is what they condemn formerly; even the "anarchist" Rainer finds himself intoxicated with his increasingly idolised status.
An engaging and powerful film with a sense of humour, suspension (terror arises when the light goes off during Karo's anti-Wave poster distribution), twist (Rainer's concluding speech), believable characterisation and excellent acting (Jürgen Vogel, Max Riemelt, and Frederick Lau). Inspired by a true event in California , this intelligent film merits attention particularly because of its non-preaching and humanistic treatment of a heavy subject.