The White Ribbon

[Regulattor]

Didn't watch this movie yet, but from wikipedia and some other movie critics I can tell that this could be one very interesting and intriguing movie. According to its author Austrian Michael Haneke it's about "the origin of every type of terrorism, be it of political or religious nature." So it sounds promising!

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2136737049/
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Ribbon
http://www.plume-noire.com/movies/reviews/the-white-ribbon-review.html
http://www.altfg.com/blog/awards/the-white-ribbon-storm-german-film-awards-289/

Looking forward to replays.

 

[JEEP]

The White Ribbon has just won the Golden Globe award for foreign-language film. Local newspaper article detailing the GG winners doesn't mention it at all - it only appears in the list of winners. It must not have any high profile superstars appearing in it and thus, no celebrity buzz. After all, buzz is what's REALLY important, not conscience/conscious raising content!

FWIW, some comments regarding the film/trailer at _http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/oct/19/white-ribbon-trailer:

Many thanks, but as we know from years of watching movie trailers, they never offer an accurate picture of the Real Thing. Trailers are compiled with an audience in mind and create rhythms and textures that don't often correlate with the film itself. Haneke's art lies in creating (mostly) still frames in which action takes place slowly, tension mounts and creepiness lurks - most of which is difficult to express in a 2 minute trailer. I prefer the word "teaser" to "trailer" as that's what they do - they tease your interest, but they can't ever substitute for the movie itself. [...]

I saw the film at Cannes this year, and while this trailer is effective it doesn't quite manage (and could possibly never hope) to capture the true majesty of Haneke's film.

While the trailer provokes intrigue and certainly shows the film's beauty, it represents only a inkling of the quietly brooding menace of The White Ribbon, a film that I feel will go on to rank as the finest European cinema offering of the decade.

Regarding: "Did you ever wonder who tortured Karli?" … Michael Haneke's A White Ribbon

1. The subtitles are not correct, therefore there is a slight shift of meaning here. The verb "jemanden zurichten" in the 1st phrase does not mean "torture", but "injure" or "batter". ("torture" has to be translated with "foltern", "martern", "quälen", "misshandeln", it is the stronger verb and focusses more on the process, while "zurichten" speaks more about the terrible result, the wounds) The phrase should be: "Have you ever asked yourselves who injured Karli this way?"
2. Haneke, who lives 15 minutes away from my home, said in an interview about this piece of work, that he wanted to portray the youth of the generation who would later become the Nazis. He himself grew up as an Austrian protestant, which means that he belonged to a religious (and cultural) minority in this very catholic country. This position makes you selfconscious and conscious about the values of your "own" group. Therefore he was able to portray the rigidity of this protestant German community and the physical and psychological harm they are doing to themselves and others so well.

Very much enjoyed reading the comments so far. I was at the Cannes evening presentation and felt that glorious wave of audience rapture breaking over us. It was a rare moment when you knew you'd just seen a truly great film. A gifted director at the top of his game. Treesponge has said it better than I could. Nailed it. This trailer will attract people to see the film, which is after all its function, but it is a Hollywood potted version of a very fine, deliberate, brooding film which takes its time to tell the story. I don't think it does justice (how could it?) to the detailed observation of life in the village. But you are hooked from the very beginning. From the very first sequence where the doctor's horse falls violently, you know that something is very very wrong in this ostensibly peaceful little village. The pace is very measured, sometimes even clinical in its observation. But you are drawn in to this compelling story which unfolds very gradually. It's one of the best films I've ever seen, whatever you may think of the trailer.

I don't understand how it is possible to make film after film without injecting even the slightest whiff of humour or warmth in any of the characters. What has Mr Haneke been awarded for? Are we supposed to despise the bourgousie for their hypocritical and selfish ways? Is that really a new theme in cinema? If that's all he has to offer I'll take Bunuel's films any day. And fancy being given an award at Cannes! He should be incarcerated instead. There must be some French law against casting Juliette Binoche in such a flat, Ibsenesque role.

Don't let any of the above comments put you off; it's a masterpiece made by someone getting close to the height of his powers. Go to see it.

It takes off where Caché stopped - with the children. It's not Film By Numbers, Parodic or Obvious. It's what we all want from cinema - it's about something important and at the same time it's beautiful, funny, deeply disturbing and incredibly moving. The central perfomances are without exception very very strong. It's one of those films where you recognise that everyone involved in making it was at their best. I saw it at the weekend and believe me you will want to watch the trailer over and over again too. It stays with you.

For any other Irish out there: it will stir up all the emotions you thought you'd left behind after the Ryan Report went off the front pages.

If cinema is important to you don't miss this.

It's an okay trailer - whets an appetite to know more. Shows the beauty of the cinematography but also injects unease.

It's a sad day for anyone who really loves cinema to miss this film. Hard to believe it was actually shot today ... it makes a mockery of most 'costume drama' ... the truth is, for me, it's a horror film and shocked the brown stuff out of me ... appaled me to the depths - the tensions, the hypocrisy, the incredible dissection of the life and dynamic within that community is so true for so many places ... it's as much about today as it is about a pre WW1 German village.

This is a must experience but not one to be taken lightly.

I'm still in shock.

I'm excited by the comments of those who've seen this film. I've seen most of Hanneke, rank The Piano Teacher amongst my favourite films, and if this displays anything like his full reach, it'll be a stunning picture. From the trailer it does seem Berganesque - from the intensity of the close-ups to the haunting use of Bach. Can't wait.

I think it's more like just under 2 hrs 30 mins. End of pedantic bit.

I saw it at the weekend here in Germany. I've seen a few of Haneke's previous films, and I was somewhat disappointed in that I was hoping it wouldn't be as grim and misanthropic as The Piano Teacher or Funny Games. There is no "good force" in any of his films that I can see, or if there is, it's not permitted to have any effect. The teacher in The White Ribbon is sentimental and rather weak. Plus I've already had enough of the self-hating German/Austrian thing.

That said, it is a great-looking and superbly-acted film and time and place are depicted flawlessly. But as one ugly deed followed another, I found it becoming monotonous and flat. It lacks soul, or heart, or depth.

Hidden - the most overrated film of the decade.

Michael Haneke - the most overrated director of the decade.

Boring, moralising rubbish with that patented staid, cold cameraeye like a disapproving Lutheran.

Characters that are nothing but ciphers. Three hours (Jesus) of middle class catharsis.

The Piano Teacher wasn't bad...

So, you'll probably either really, really love it or really, really hate it! :/