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IMDb > Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009)
Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte
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Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 33 | slideshow) Videos (see all 7)
Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009) -- Strange events happen in a small village in the north of Germany during the years just before World War I, which seem to be ritual punishment. The abused and suppressed children of the villagers seem to be at the heart of this mystery.
Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009) -- The abused children of a small German village are connected to strange events in this trailer.
Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009) -- Movieplayer.it - Italian Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
8.2/10   2,778 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 164% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Michael Haneke (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The White Ribbon on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 September 2009 (Austria) more
Genre:
Plot:
Strange events happen in a small village in the north of Germany during the years just before World War I, which seem to be ritual punishment. The abused and suppressed children of the villagers seem to be at the heart of this mystery. | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 9 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(234 articles)
User Comments:
A Children's Story more (34 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The White Ribbon (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
A White Ribbon (Europe: English title)
Il nastro bianco (Italy)
Le ruban blanc (France)
The White Tape or the Teacher's Tale (International: English title) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for some disturbing content involving violence and sexuality.
Runtime:
144 min
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:R (certificate #45622) | USA:R | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Ireland:15A
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In an interview with Austrian magazine "Celluloid", Michael Haneke stated that he first planned "Das weiße Band" as a three-part TV-mini-series. more

FAQ

Is "The White Ribbon" an Austrian or a German production?
Is the movie based on a book?
more
5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
A Children's Story, 17 November 2009
8/10
Author: rowmorg from Eel Pie Island

The sub-title (A German Children's Story) shows where director Haneke's mind was in the making of this excellent mystery, The White Ribbon. The young schoolteacher hero clearly suspects his class of village children to be the chief suspects in a series of local crimes, although the shocked Pastor makes him swear to silence. The teacher (in old man's voice-over) postulates the popular explanation for the events: that the Doctor and his mistress, in their perverted relationship, themselves caused or perpetrated the crimes. But his own suspicions loom larger in the end, hinting at some unspeakable change occurring in European humanity at the dawn of the 20th century.

Typically, the English-speaking take on this wonderfully evocative monochrome movie is that it hints at the origins of Nazism, but this is a parochial view. The British and Americans themselves have performed unspeakable acts in modern times: for example, the imposition of slavery on generations of Africans, or the cruel suppression of the Kikuyu people in their own land of Kenya, just to name two examples.

This powerful film says something, not about Austria, or Germany, but about the western human condition, with its hypocritical hang-ups about sex, its obsession with books, and perverted male chauvinism. This is a long film, and non German-speakers have to rely on sub-titles (although the German is excellently spoken), but for those with eyes to see, and hearts to feel, it is an important statement. Not to be missed.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Acting of the children pftm
A gratuitous scene? allenap
To me 'The Seventh Continent' looks like the key. radeherb
Pastor; give him a break! celticloon
Off-centre subtitles bokibongbing
Whodunit? SPOILERS - A THEORY celticloon
more

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