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The Wave

Original title: Die Welle
  • 2008
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
112K
YOUR RATING
The Wave (2008)
The Wave: Clip 8
Play clip1:07
Watch The Wave: Clip 8
4 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaThriller

A high school teacher's 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.A high school teacher's 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.A high school teacher's 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.

  • Director
    • Dennis Gansel
  • Writers
    • Ron Jones
    • Johnny Dawkins
    • Ron Birnbach
  • Stars
    • Jürgen Vogel
    • Frederick Lau
    • Max Riemelt
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    112K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Dennis Gansel
    • Writers
      • Ron Jones
      • Johnny Dawkins
      • Ron Birnbach
    • Stars
      • Jürgen Vogel
      • Frederick Lau
      • Max Riemelt
    • 135User reviews
    • 101Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos4

    The Wave: Clip 8
    Clip 1:07
    Watch The Wave: Clip 8
    The Wave: Clip 2
    Clip 0:41
    Watch The Wave: Clip 2
    The Wave: Clip 6
    Clip 1:43
    Watch The Wave: Clip 6
    The Wave: Clip 4
    Clip 0:49
    Watch The Wave: Clip 4

    Photos338

    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    Liv Lisa Fries in The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jürgen Vogel
    Jürgen Vogel
    • Rainer Wenger
    Frederick Lau
    Frederick Lau
    • Tim Stoltefuss
    Max Riemelt
    Max Riemelt
    • Marco
    Jennifer Ulrich
    Jennifer Ulrich
    • Karo
    Christiane Paul
    Christiane Paul
    • Anke Wenger
    Jacob Matschenz
    Jacob Matschenz
    • Dennis
    Cristina do Rego
    Cristina do Rego
    • Lisa
    Elyas M'Barek
    Elyas M'Barek
    • Sinan
    Maximilian Vollmar
    • Bomber
    Max Mauff
    Max Mauff
    • Kevin
    • (as Maximilian Mauff)
    Ferdinand Schmidt-Modrow
    • Ferdi
    Tim Oliver Schultz
    Tim Oliver Schultz
    • Jens
    Amelie Kiefer
    • Mona
    Fabian Preger
    • Kaschi
    Odine Johne
    Odine Johne
    • Maja
    Tino Mewes
    Tino Mewes
    • Schädel
    Karoline Teska
    • Miri
    Marco Bretscher-Coschignano
    • Dominik
    • Director
      • Dennis Gansel
    • Writers
      • Ron Jones
      • Johnny Dawkins
      • Ron Birnbach
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • Goofs
      Although set somewhere in western Germany, all policemen wear insignia of the state of Berlin.
    • Quotes

      Rainer Wenger: So you don't think there could be another dictatorship in Germany?

      Jens: No, we are too enlightened now.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening and closing credits appear as graffiti.
    • Connections
      Featured in Die Johannes B. Kerner Show: Episode dated 12 March 2008 (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Rock 'n' Roll High School
      Written by Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone

      Performed by EL*KE

      Produced by Mirko Schaffer

      ©1980 WB Music Corp. and Taco Tunes

    User reviews135

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Fascism is still possible and alive
    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.
    helpful•102
    20
    • pei_yin_lin
    • Sep 29, 2008

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    FAQ1

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 27, 2011 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • France
    • Official site
      • Constantin Film [Germany]
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • La ola
    • Filming locations
      • Berlin, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Rat Pack Filmproduktion
      • Constantin Film
      • B.A. Produktion
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $32,350,637
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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