Film Critique: Die Welle

   

A class of German students during project week comes together to what seems to be a teachers dream, uniform and manipulated. A teachers’ project tries to teach the students about fascism by interaction and role playing. The students manage to come together as one by the class creates unity…

They did this by having a dress code, a logo, and a salute. This mini-dictatorship overall helps the students overcome all obstacles by remaining loyal to each other and moving in unison. But this ultimately leads to the harsh realization that in order to accomplish these things they have led a path of destructing everything in their way, and also destructing those who will not conform. This leads to the down fall of a naive power hungry teacher leading a gang of students called “the wave” (die welle.) With this movement expanding beyond the walls of the classroom, the downfall of his marriage and his students, he is then faced with the struggle of how to end the project.  When he realizes this lesson plan of fascism has gone too far he decides to show the students just how vulnerable they have been and open their eyes to the reality of their destruction with a dramatic eye opener. This ends with distraught students, one actually shooting another student and then shortly after taking his own life after making the harsh decision that “the wave” was all he had to live for.

This 2008 Film was directed by Dennis Gansel. It is based off of the “Ron Jones‘ social experiment”. Ron Jones was a teacher in Palo Alto, California who in 1967 decided to show his students how the people of Germany could allow the rise of the Nazi’s and then continue to claim ignorance. His movement was called “The Third Wave.” His writings nine years after the account have contributed to a book, a short story, a musical, two movies, and a documentary. This book is a commonly a mandatory reading in most German schools.

The setting of this film strictly indicates political undertones. This American-based story is about a project of fascism in a history class that is set in none other than present day Germany. Where better to set a movie about fascism? Germany is historically known for the Holocaust and the separation of the Aryan race to be supreme during World War Two. Nazi’s still exist in Germany along with Neo-Nazi’s, much like racism is still alive today in America. This film starts with the question “Could fascism rise again in Germany?” You can clearly see by the reactions of the students in the movie that this is a touchy subject, and everyone clearly indicates no. This is clearly an attempt to show the contrast between the benefits and consequences of living under the influences of a fascist lifestyle. This movie depicts the transition from light to dark as the transition of good rapidly changes to evil. This also explains the reason why the Germans were chosen as the audience. The Holocaust is considered a highly controversial topic among Germans where as the rise of fascism is highly frowned upon.

This movie shows highscool students with the everyday struggles of relationships, athletics, and partying. All these struggles are portrayed with different scenery. The theater class was dimmed to be dramatic. This is where we meet Karo and her conflict with her play and the other actors/students. Karos actress played a tough role as she decided to not join the wave, and actually rebelled against them and her boyfriend. Her character represents what they want the audience to portray in their lives. The makers of the movie want people to question rule and conforming. She is the icon of how you should live your life.

The struggle with athletics was a landscape shot of the pool. This struggle depicts Marco furthering in his fascist ways and to show him conforming. This is very evident in their water polo teams struggle to win. It was because they were not working together. Once he gives in to the opposing idea that he should share the ball to work as a team, they become more successful. This foreshadows his downfall into conforming into the new movement. He then stands up and also becomes an icon of how you should rise up against conforming and treat others fairly. This struggle becomes evident when he has to choose between the love of his life or the movement.

Then the party scene is dark and crowded. There is loud music to portray being overwhelmed. During the party scene they chose a very interesting lighting. It is night time and the scene is outside during a drug deal, however there is direct light, almost a spot light on the characters as they are speaking. Most of this movie is shot with somewhat natural lighting, however this scene in particular stood out the most. This is where we meet Tim. Tim has struggled to fit in even with his family. The lighting in the scene depicts the importance of it. Tim becomes a central character in this development and shows what happens when you become a radical or even an extremist. Tim chooses to live and die for The Wave while surrendering his life to his leader, Mr. Wenger.

Mr. Wenger is the icon for the dictator. He is finally accepted in his role as a leader of his students and takes it too far by allowing his students to expand beyond the classroom.  The setting of his house further explains Mr. Wenger and his lifestyle. He lives in a remote area, where he has a houseboat in his back yard on a lake. His house is very modern and almost cluttered. His wife’s role in the story is to be the enforcer of the norm and what is acceptable. He then pushes those limits causing conflict in their relationship. The lighting used at every scene with the house is natural lighting; this is perhaps to set the mood for relaxation. Home is where everything is to be relaxed, however when the dark side stars rising from conforming the lighting gradually gets darker for all of the scenery.

The music in this film suits each scene. It has a very cinematic feel when the rushing music takes over while the students plow the street to market the movement and to mark the territory of the wave. Also the dramatic music at the end truly makes your emotions run through the devastation. The ending scene where it is slow motion through the crowd of students and media while Mr. Wenger is being escorted to the police vehicle is an important moment. The slow motion speed allows the viewer to see every student, family member, and faculty’s devastation, remorse, and disgust. This is especially true with the hold on Mr. Wingers’ face at the end. It is a frontal shot where he is looking directly at the camera. It is the most powerful camera angle and shot of the movie where you truly see the regret, and disgust in his eyes with his actions.

This film was made to be marketed for Germany; however, I believe with the Hollywood cinematic that it was also made to be shown internationally. Specifically to also be shown in more industrialized places that feed off of drama and excitement, like the United States. This film has shown to also be successful in the United States even without translating it over to English and just keeping the subtitles.

Overall this film was phenomenal. It recreates history literally and figuratively while sending a political message to the German community. I would highly suggest this film to anyone in the future, and even think it should be incorporated into our high schools, or college curriculum.