The Wave

If You Were Asked To Do Something, Would You Do It?




Director: Dennis Gansel

Release Date: 2008

Rating: 15

Running Time: 107 mins

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Actors: Jurgen Voler,Frederick Lau, Max Reimelt

I think it's fair to say that when it comes to German cinema, I can hold my hands up and say I am not all that familiar with it all that well. Although I must add that from the few films I've seen I have learnt a lot about German culture, values and history and I must say that it goes very under the radar in British culture, which in a sense is actually stopping us from realising just how interesting and enjoyable it can actually be. Furthermore I must add that this doesn't just apply to German cinema, but world cinema in general. I find that most people prefer the American and British Hollywood Blockbusters, which are not bad by any means, but after a while, foreign cinema offers and alternative, fresh approach to film viewing.

I found Wolfgang Becker's 'Goodbye Lenin!' (2003) to be highly educational and fascinating as it helps portray the events of the 90's after the fall of the Berlin Wall and impact it had on East Germany. Furthermore I also found it be a film packed with a gripping story line with compelling scenes of romance, comedy and family values that are similar to that of British society. So naturally when it came to watching 'The Wave', or 'Die Welle' as it is referred to in German, I tried to be as open minded as possible about the German language and the overall storyline, which I must say, as predicted, was highly sophisticated and intriguing.

The film allows the audience to see the Westernised Germany in the modern day, and take a look at the guilt that many Germans still bare after the effect that Nazism and WWII had on everyone. It was also able to capture the ignorance of some people when it came to the topic of fascism, and indeed beg the question of whether in a democratic society, could people be transformed once again into following a dictatorship similar to that of Nazi party whereby uniform and fascist organisation was followed.

Set in only one week, one German secondary school teacher, Rainer Wenger, decides to show his students what it would be like to be living in a dictatorship where uniformity is followed and obeyed. What starts out as a harmless experiment, it's easy to see how fascism is still not only possible but with the right encouragement and instruction, still very possible. 'The Wave' is a very political and incredibly controversial film when it comes discussing the political aspects of German history as it is still most likely a bit too close to home for some people, even in other countries. But nevertheless I think this is one of the key reasons why this film works so well and can be well credited, we are made to consider what's still possible and how easily with the right words we can change just like that. I suppose in many aspects 'The Wave' can be closely linked to William Goulding's 'Lord of the Flies' through the way it captures the slow break down of humanity and shows us the darker side that everyone possess and in that sense it's a very powerful concept.

Despite it all being in German, I found the acting to be superbly done and very believable, which is especially good given that most of the cast were still only teenagers when the film was made. For me it was a completely unknown cast, but I must say that Jurgen Vogel, despite never seeing him before, gave an enjoyable and interesting performance as the likeable yet controversial Rainer Wenger. A role that had me both shocked and inspired at.

I think 'The Wave' is certainly a film that audiences should check out, as it is highly enjoyable. Yet however it must be added that it is not the easiest of films to watch, it's message and the morals that it carry's will sit with you long after it's finished due to it's immense impact. The film will make you see that even though it's set in Germany, these issues can be possible pretty much anywhere and could therefore be indicating as well that we are all capable of doing things under certain leaders, and should we always listen to and do what we are told? Perhaps not the happiest of films but powerfully fascinating all the same.

6/10