The Wave

Director: Dennis Gansel

Year: 2008

Starring: Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau and Max Riemelt

Synopsis: The film is about an unusual experiment a high school teacher conducts, to demonstrate to his students what it feels like to be under a dictatorship. However, throughout the film we become aware of how the experiment is spinning out of control, as the students form a social unit which has a life of its own.

Review:

I like The Wave, as it is different to most mainstream films shown at multiplexes. The storyline is also clever, with an underlining message - how easily dictatorships can form, without people really understanding that they are being manipulated.

The acting in the film is good, and the characters are plausible as real people. The fact that there is a member of the group who is easily pressured into stupid activities, adds depth to the storyline. The way that there is a conflict in views about the experiment generates a sense that not everyone can be easily swayed into believing in what the teacher is trying to get across.

Verdict:

I think this film is thought provoking. It is also features good camerawork and superb acting, and for these reasons I would recommend this movie to anyone. I have one criticism about it though, and that is, that the subtitles could remain on the screen a little longer, as I feel the time for each translation to pass could be lengthened so people who are slow readers could manage.

****