Die Welle (The Wave) (2008)

This was a very thought provoking film. The Wave is based on an experiment carried out in an American high school which saw students being taught fascist principles, and the repercussions it had outside of the class. The fact that this is a German film, set inside a German high school, makes the experiment performed in the story much more historically and politically significant. To summarize the plot, Rainer Wenger (Jürgen Vogel) is selected in his department to teach autocracy for one week, to his disapproval. On the first lesson, he decides to perform an experiment which would teach the students the values of a fascist group, similar to how the Nazis manipulated the German people. As the experiment progresses, the students begin craft a gang culture around the principles of the experiment (the group being named the Wave), and as a result, the students begin to vandalize various locations and exclude anyone not wearing a white shirt (their chosen uniform). A series of disturbing events take place as the experiment nears it's end, and some of the students begin questioning the real dangers of the Wave. This film most definitely puts out an anti-fascism message, as illustrated by the growing violent tendencies of the Wave members, and especially the shocking closing sequence. However, there is one problem. The acceptance of the movement by the students seems far too quick. Yes, I can see the character of Wegner being very likeable, and the students seem to like him as a teacher. But the fascist values imposed on them taking effect from day one, to me, appears far too unrealistic. Too many of the students take in fascism too quickly. However, the acting was very good, especially that of Frederick Lau as Tim. The mentally unstable and unaccepted character is a good metaphor for the state of the German people after world war one, and his acceptance of the Wave is reminiscent of the German people accepting the nazis. There were some very clever uses of editing and cinematography, and overall, an intriguing, disturbing and, surprisingly funny story.