The Wave (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Cynthia S

  
  Based on actual events. Although the actual experiment took place in Palo Alto, California, this film takes place in Germany. A teacher decides to undertake a project in his class where his students believe that a dictatorship can never happen in Germany ever again. For the week, the… More
  Based on actual events. Although the actual experiment took place in Palo Alto, California, this film takes place in Germany. A teacher decides to undertake a project in his class where his students believe that a dictatorship can never happen in Germany ever again. For the week, the teacher declares himself dictator, and becomes the ruling leader of his newly established group. Before he knows it, however, his students have taken the project outside of school grounds, and extend fascism into the hands of unwilling participants. The project soon gets out of control. Although greatly exaggerated at times, one has to remember that the film is based from real events, and that is what makes the film powerful. The Wave is a study on how one charismatic leader can motivate a populus into doing his will. It is dictatorship on a very small scale, but the haunting part is that dictatorships always start from a small group of mind-washed individuals. I recommend checking this link out: http://libcom.org/history/the-third-wave-1967-account-ron-jones.....which explains the actual experiment. Really good film here!!

• Jens S

  
  This German drama about a teacher's project of showing his class how easily people fall into fascism traps starts out somewhat slow, taking its time to establish the characters. And even once the experiments starts to get more and more out of hand, the drama is never taken too… More
  This German drama about a teacher's project of showing his class how easily people fall into fascism traps starts out somewhat slow, taking its time to establish the characters. And even once the experiments starts to get more and more out of hand, the drama is never taken too far and stays realistic. Only the ending feels a bit too over the top. The open minded viewer can certainly appreciate this cautionary tale, yet at the same time question the fact that the voice of reason against The Wave remains somewhat small. The acting and good direction make for an entertaining and important piece of film, that doesn't get too preachy. Still, I expected a little more, somehow.

• Rubia Carolina .

  
  It's a very interesting and important subject, but the film itself is very average. To those who don't know, this experiment actually took place in California, in 1967, but imagine that it could have happened in Germany is really more scaring and worrisome. </br>… More
  It's a very interesting and important subject, but the film itself is very average. To those who don't know, this experiment actually took place in California, in 1967, but imagine that it could have happened in Germany is really more scaring and worrisome. </br> </br>

• Carlos M

  
  Very well written and directed, this film is a fascinating, thought-provoking study on men's terrifying disposition to let themselves be led by a fascist-like autocracy that can take root in any society.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Can there be another dictatorship in Germany?"</i> A high school teacher's unusual experiment to demonstrate to his students what life is like under a dictatorship spins horribly out of control when he forms a social unit with a life of its own.… More
  <i>"Can there be another dictatorship in Germany?"</i> A high school teacher's unusual experiment to demonstrate to his students what life is like under a dictatorship spins horribly out of control when he forms a social unit with a life of its own. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> How does anyone really portray autocracy and/or fascism? In most ways, it can be done in the usual one-dimensional concoction of corruption, evil deeds, extreme delusion and paranoia amongst the ruling elites of the regimes. The Wave ("Die Welle") though looks at the issue from a different angle, examining how it can arise and entrance those it touches, and in the process makes the whole issue look fresh again. The basic story is that of a school teacher (an anarchist at heart) who has to teach a class about "Autocracy". Failing to get their attention, he decides to create an experiment whereby they are to create their own mini autocracy and rules amongst themselves (named "The Wave"). With such a controversial subject, the whole thing gets out of hand with the pupils succumbing to the autocratic fascist methodology with grave consequences. One important point that needs to be added is that its a German movie, and for historical reasons the topic is a delicate one, yet seems to add to the whole feel. The film is quite realistically disturbing in many ways, and shows how most of the pupils slowly fall for fascism in quite innocent ways. It will make you think and possibly reassess the important question, as asked in the film, if Autocracy can rear its head again. The writing, the acting and direction are excellent. Jürgen Vogel as the class teacher is both entertaining and thoughtful in his role, but the cast in general is exceptional especially as in the main they are mostly teenagers. If you like thoughtful films, and wish to see something that is questioning historical events in the present, then there is little to better this. Deserves to be watched. Its a film that will definitely be spoken about and re watched by many repeatedly for many years to come.

• Ross C

  
  A high school teacher takes an experimental approach to his students' autocracy project. Demonstrating the ease at how fascism grew in Germany, he accidentally ends up creating a cult of his own.

• Arash X

  
  What can save a movie like this from being just an educational lecture is a bit of ambition which this movie lacks, The first half is actually good but then it goes downhill & leads to the predictable ending, & I must say this, that annoying supposed to be smart & aware of… More
  What can save a movie like this from being just an educational lecture is a bit of ambition which this movie lacks, The first half is actually good but then it goes downhill & leads to the predictable ending, & I must say this, that annoying supposed to be smart & aware of everything chick was on my nerve throughout the whole movie

• Luke B

  
  Like another German film Das Experiment, Die Welle translates a simple social experiment into a fascinating and tense drama. Everything is exaggerated, but it is done so in quite believable terms in order for us to see the most extreme outcomes. Die Welle is engrossing stuff. It makes… More
  Like another German film Das Experiment, Die Welle translates a simple social experiment into a fascinating and tense drama. Everything is exaggerated, but it is done so in quite believable terms in order for us to see the most extreme outcomes. Die Welle is engrossing stuff. It makes you think about such a situation and the story/characters at hand. The acting is excellent and draws us in to each individual life. The screenplay is wonderfully written, slowly building on the idea presented. We see the joys of fascism and what makes it so attractive, as well as the inevitable descent into madness and chaos. Gripping to the end even if fairly obvious as to where it is headed.

• Gordon A

  
  Passable German treatise on the potential for fascistic ideas to appeal to a modern generation but I didn't believe the pupil's relationship with their tutor would precipitate the radicalism so quickly if at all.

• Kevin M

  
  Based on a true story, the movie is even more powerful than the book. The Wave is a stylistic look at fascism and dictatorship. It's also sends the perfect message of how vulnerable kids are to an idea. Solid performances, great plot, and I liked the setting, which is Germany. I… More
  Based on a true story, the movie is even more powerful than the book. The Wave is a stylistic look at fascism and dictatorship. It's also sends the perfect message of how vulnerable kids are to an idea. Solid performances, great plot, and I liked the setting, which is Germany. I never realized how different the actual landscape is from the U.S. A very well made movie.

• Nicolas K

  
  The idea is good, the execution not convincing enough. Great soundtrack and solid direction.

• Henrik S

  
  Die Welle is quite similar to another German film, Das Experiment as it discusses the idea of confined spaces, either literally or as in the creation of an superimposed hierarchy in order to showcase the effect(s) of autocracy. The basic premise of the film is quite interesting, an… More
  Die Welle is quite similar to another German film, Das Experiment as it discusses the idea of confined spaces, either literally or as in the creation of an superimposed hierarchy in order to showcase the effect(s) of autocracy. The basic premise of the film is quite interesting, an easy-going school teacher decides to reenact a dictatorship in his class until things start going wrong and the kids take the stuff too serious. What follows is a brainstorm on social dynamics, the pitfalls of power and the forming function of othering and gang activities. The film is entertaining and refreshingly different (in most parts) from American films, especially the casting focuses on authentic and realistic characters. Yes, like almost all modern German films, this one tries too hard to be cool and funky sometimes instead of accepting the fact that all things German will always be heavy and ponderous, like Russian literature, it's part of the national identity and cultural heritage. The 'twist' is a bit obvious and too carefully prepared to be believable and that was a bit of a waste of a nice possible climax. I did not like Jurgen Vogel's performance, his character is supposedly blinded by his success, but the sudden and influxable turn of this character from a post-punk into a right wing enthusiast is not reflected both in the script & dialogues and his performance. A good film and the subject matter makes it what is and can lead to very interesting discussions. Unfortunately, the film kind of treats the incident as isolated phenomenon purely fueled by its foothold in the Nazi tradition instead of considering society's underlying desire for control. Definitely worth your time, if only too support world cinema. HX

• Dimitris S

  
  Instability of the fragile man and the turning points arrive,hellish consequences,oh,don't forget detrimental gorges.Please,the sentimentalist approach on a film cannot be put in action while you're removing the aggressiveness of the subject.So Vogel is a fuckin'… More
  Instability of the fragile man and the turning points arrive,hellish consequences,oh,don't forget detrimental gorges.Please,the sentimentalist approach on a film cannot be put in action while you're removing the aggressiveness of the subject.So Vogel is a fuckin' talent.An A-class performance is not enough to seal this film's eternal mystery.Especially this desperate,deus ex machina wannabe finale...

• Marcus W

  
  Yet another quality German film with shades of Fight Club and Battle Royale. They have the pacing down pat, this film not once drags or has any unnecessary bits. The acting is all good, it paints Germany itself well and has a brilliant ending that I didn't see coming. Saying… More
  Yet another quality German film with shades of Fight Club and Battle Royale. They have the pacing down pat, this film not once drags or has any unnecessary bits. The acting is all good, it paints Germany itself well and has a brilliant ending that I didn't see coming. Saying that, my only complaint about this film is a level of predictability, especially with the characters. From the start you can tell how each one is going to react to "The Wave". Yet it's still thoroughly engaging and brilliantly done. What is it with Germans and psychological movies?

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