Die Welle (2008)

	Also Known As: The wave
	Year of first release: 2008
	Director: Dennis Gansel
	Actors: Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt, Jennifer Ulrich
	Country: D
	Genre: Drama, Thriller
	Conditions of visioning: 10.09.2014, Arte via livestream, German version
Synopsis: In modern Germany, a school organises a project week in which each class will approach one society concept going from democracy to autocracy. The autocracy group takes the exercise seriously and nazism-rise-like behaviour appear.
Review: The story from a novel by Todd Strasser (aka Morton Rhue) on a teaching experiment by history teacher Ron Jones in 1967 in Palo Alto is strong. It shows that the beast is living in us to use the words of Berthold Brecht ("Der Schoß ist fruchtbar noch, aus dem das kroch"). It is not so hard to become a nazi. It is not just a question of hating. It is also a question of doing anything for the own group regardless from the human manners and regardless from the rest.  The acting of Jürgen Vogel as teacher is as usual very natural, authentic and convincing. Also the directing of teenagers (Lau, Riemelt and Ulrich) is well done, as these appear to me with the will of finding their own identity, of getting out from their own family difficulties, of being engaged to enjoy life and find their own limits. The photography always tries to focus on the characters that are already a lot. It is not easy to adapt a book in a movie. This has been successful because the idea of the book is there even if many points and all the details are gone. Other details have been invented.
Rating: 8 /10