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IMDbPro

The White Ribbon

Original title: Das weiße Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte
  • 20092009
  • RR
  • 2h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
73K
YOUR RATING
Leonard Proxauf in The White Ribbon (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.
Play trailer1:53
1 Video
64 Photos
  • Drama
  • Mystery
  • Thriller
Strange events happen in a small village in the north of Germany during the years before World War I, which seem to be ritual punishment. Who is responsible?Strange events happen in a small village in the north of Germany during the years before World War I, which seem to be ritual punishment. Who is responsible?Strange events happen in a small village in the north of Germany during the years before World War I, which seem to be ritual punishment. Who is responsible?
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
73K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Haneke
  • Writer
    • Michael Haneke(story)
  • Stars
    • Christian Friedel
    • Ernst Jacobi(voice)
    • Leonie Benesch
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Haneke
  • Writer
    • Michael Haneke(story)
  • Stars
    • Christian Friedel
    • Ernst Jacobi(voice)
    • Leonie Benesch
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 226User reviews
    • 287Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 62 wins & 48 nominations total

    Videos1

    The White Ribbon
    Trailer 1:53
    The White Ribbon

    Photos64

    Leonard Proxauf in The White Ribbon (2009)
    Ursina Lardi in The White Ribbon (2009)
    Bianca Mey, Mika Ahrens, Kristina Kneppek, and Stephanie Amarell in The White Ribbon (2009)
    Rainer Bock in The White Ribbon (2009)
    The White Ribbon (2009)
    Detlev Buck and Christian Friedel in The White Ribbon (2009)
    Steffi Kühnert, Leonard Proxauf, and Levin Henning in The White Ribbon (2009)
    The White Ribbon (2009)
    Sara Schivazappa and Fion Mutert in The White Ribbon (2009)
    Maria Dragus and Roxane Duran in The White Ribbon (2009)
    Enno Trebs and Roxane Duran in The White Ribbon (2009)
    The White Ribbon (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christian Friedel
    Christian Friedel
    • The School Teacheras The School Teacher
    Ernst Jacobi
    Ernst Jacobi
    • The School Teacher as an Old Manas The School Teacher as an Old Man
    • (voice)
    Leonie Benesch
    Leonie Benesch
    • Evaas Eva
    Ulrich Tukur
    Ulrich Tukur
    • The Baronas The Baron
    Ursina Lardi
    Ursina Lardi
    • The Baronessas The Baroness
    Fion Mutert
    • Sigias Sigi
    Michael Kranz
    Michael Kranz
    • The Tutoras The Tutor
    Burghart Klaußner
    Burghart Klaußner
    • The Pastoras The Pastor
    • (as Burghart Klaussner)
    Steffi Kühnert
    Steffi Kühnert
    • The Pastor's Wifeas The Pastor's Wife
    Maria Dragus
    Maria Dragus
    • Klaraas Klara
    • (as Maria-Victoria Dragus)
    Leonard Proxauf
    Leonard Proxauf
    • Martinas Martin
    Levin Henning
    • Adolfas Adolf
    Johanna Busse
    • Margareteas Margarete
    Yuma Amecke
    • Annchenas Annchen
    Thibault Sérié
    Thibault Sérié
    • Gustavas Gustav
    Josef Bierbichler
    Josef Bierbichler
    • The Stewardas The Steward
    Gabriela Maria Schmeide
    • The Steward's Wifeas The Steward's Wife
    • (as Gabriela-Maria Schmeide)
    Janina Fautz
    Janina Fautz
    • Ernaas Erna
    • Director
      • Michael Haneke
    • Writer
      • Michael Haneke(story) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Most of the adults are not given names in the film, instead being called Pastor, Baron, Steward, etc. This includes the narrator, who is only known as The School Teacher.
    • Goofs
      In the scene when the farmer sits next to his wife's corpse, the actress's breathing is noticeable.
    • Quotes

      Martin: I gave God a chance to kill me. He didn't do it, so he's pleased with me.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening and closing credits are shown in complete silence. There is no music or other sounds during both entire credit sequences.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2009 (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      O Sacred Head Now Wounded
      (uncredited)

      Lyrics from a mediaeval Latin poem

      Music by Hans Leo Hassler

      Sung in the church

    User reviews226

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Haunting Prequel to the Third Reich
    Filmed beautifully in black and white with subtitles, The White Ribbon is a movie that will leave viewers with a lasting residue long after it ends. The film portrays the residents of a northern German village, dominated by a baron, sometime before World War I.

    Inhabitants of this village, young and old, are sliding down the slippery slope of moral decline. The men in leadership positions - a doctor and clergyman, for example - are detestable, especially in their treatment of women and children. The most brutal scene in the movie, perhaps, was not one that portrayed physical violence, but verbal abuse towards a woman that served faithfully as caretaker, and more, for the town's widowed physician. As for the some of the children, although it is only suggested, it appears that they are budding sociopaths that perpetrate despicable acts against others.

    Weeks after seeing this film, I started thinking more deeply about the children in this town. I realized that they would become young adults during the time Hitler would rise in power. They live an incubator in which the cruelty that they experience they, in turn, perpetrate against unsuspecting victims. Their circumstances are such that they are being unwittingly primed for carrying out the atrocities that will come to characterize their future in Nazi Germany. The White Ribbon is a prequel for the rise of the Third Reich.

    Seeing this film led me to wonder about what present times are a prequel for.
    helpful•177
    39
    • anjru
    • Jan 17, 2010

    FAQ3

    • What is "The White Ribbon" about?
    • Is the movie based on a book?
    • What does the title mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 5, 2010 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • Austria
      • France
      • Italy
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Official site (Austria)
      • Official site (France)
    • Languages
      • German
      • Italian
      • Polish
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • The White Tape or the Teacher's Tale
    • Filming locations
      • Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
    • Production companies
      • X-Filme Creative Pool
      • Wega Film
      • Les Films du Losange
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $18,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,222,862
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $59,848
      • Jan 3, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,319,671
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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