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Movie Review: The White Ribbon: A German Children's Story Alternate Title: A Town Without Pity
Story: Do not be fooled by writer/director
Michael Haneke's subtitle (A German Children's
Story) that he uses for his latest film. This is no fairy tale.
As his narrator says at the very beginning of the film, there were a
series of strange events that happened in his village that 'could perhaps
clarify some things that happened in this country.' That country is,
of course, Germany. The film opens a year before the onset of WWI. The
setting is a farming village under patriarchal rule via the Baron, who
controls the village's economy and the Pastor, who controls the strict
Protestant code of morality. A spate of bad things happen in this tiny village
over a very short period of time. Accidents, death, beatings, torture,
animal abuse, incest and unrelenting punishment are ordinary occurrences
that seem to go on behind closed doors with the villagers remaining
silent as to the perpetrators of these deeds. Haneke seems to suggest
that the seeds of Fascism may have been caused by villages like this
one where life was dismal, oppressive, punishing and brutal. The narrator is the voice of the school teacher
who is revisiting that year from the safety of the distance of time.
The film looks carefully at the children of this village, who will grow
up in 20 years to become the Third Reich standard bearers. You will undoubtedly have lots to discuss after
seeing this powerful film. How do children grow up to become monsters?
The cycle of retribution and punishment in a life that had few pleasures
and where forgiveness was slow to come can only lead to a climate of
fear and destruction. Should you see this film? Yes you should. Be
prepared to be touched on many levels. The final scene will raise the
little hairs on the back of your neck. Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE_ByB2ocVk Watch an interview with Michael Haneke on The
White Ribbon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK0tE4OqktY Acting: An outstanding cast all around including:
Ulrich Tukur (the Baron), Susanne Lothar (the Midwife), Christian Friedel
(the Schoolteacher), Burghart Klaussner (the Pastor), Leonie Benesch
(Eva), Josef Bierbichler (the Steward), Rainer Bock (the Doctor), Ernst
Jacobi (the Narrator), Ursina Lardi (Marie-Louise, the Baroness), Fion
Mutert (Sigmund), Branko Samarovski (the Farmer), Leonard Proxauf (Martin),Maria-
Victoria Dragus (Klara) and Michael Kranz (the Tutor)
Trivia: Director Michael Haneke's
movies are know for short outbursts of violence, the use of extremely
long static takes and he uses no film score. The White Ribbon has been
nominated for a Golden Globe and Critics Choice award. It won the Palm
d'Or at Cannes. It is Germany's entry into this year's Oscar race.
Predilection: I like to see films that are nominated
for major awards.
Critters: A horse and a bird that do not fare well.
Food: Food is withheld as punishment.
Sex Spectrum: Creepy innuendos of incest and some
quick coupling in a dining room. Wait until you see what happens to
a young boy who's father thinks he is touching the forbidden zone of
his body.
Opening Titles: Black background with white type.
Visual Art: The film is in stark black and white
and is visually arresting by director of photography, Christian
Berger.
Theater Audience: About 20 other very quiet people.
Weather: We get to view the four seasons in this small
German town.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 3
Drift Factor: I did not drift at all.
Predictability Level: I had not a clue as to what
was going to happen.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: It is Germany's entry into this year's
Oscar race.
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine.
Length: Overly long at 2 ours and 20 minutes. Well
over the two hour Lobo rule.
LOBO HOWLS: 8
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