The Wave is a German film that will knock your socks off!
What's it about? This reviewer will never be a spoiler, so I think it best to focus only on the opening scene of the movie:
The film begins in a high school class in Germany. Germany...pertinent fact! The teacher is obviously a real favorite with the kids. They actually call him by his first name! Quite a marvel in the stodgy environment of the typical European classroom.
Mr Popular Teacher works his magic (the way we used to, Valerie) to settle the students down. Once he gets their attention, he says that they will spend the next week studying a fascinating topic: autocracy!
Fascinating? the kids ask. Who cares? they shout out. The teacher of course tries to get them interested...the old teacher hook, so to speak.
The students say, "Oh no, not that German-guilt trip again!" The kids are referring, of course, to the Holocaust, about which they have already learned. They naturally declare, "That was another generation. We weren't even born. Germany is different. We're different."
OH REALLY? the clever professor asks.
What follows is an extraordinary experiment. The teacher does not tip his hand. But he will try to show the kids, over the course of the week, how he can turn them into good little Nazis!
Well, readers, the teacher has the kids' attention. Do I have yours????
Enjoy this wonder of a film. You'll get insight into authoritarianism like you've never had before. You'll think Lord of the Flies is a walk in the park.
You may have your first real insight into how groups can turn evil.
See my post from January of this year.
ReplyDeleteAs I wrote you separately, Valerie, I am embarrassed to admit that you already reviewed this film back in January. I believe senility might be setting in. My sincere apologies for forgetting your excellent review.
ReplyDeleteAw...no worries, David. Glad you caught it. I'd like to show this in class. I thought it was so realistically done. Still gives me chills just to think back on it.
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