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The Wave [DVD] [2008]

Jürgen Vogel , Frederick Lau , Dennis Gansel    Suitable for 15 years and over   DVD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
Price: £4.93 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

  • Actors: Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt, Jennifer Ulrich, Christiane Paul
  • Directors: Dennis Gansel
  • Writers: Dennis Gansel, Peter Thorwarth
  • Producers: Christian Becker
  • Format: PAL
  • Language: German
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Momentum Pictures Home Ent
  • DVD Release Date: 12 Jan 2009
  • Run Time: 107 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B001KW08L8
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 7,173 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

Product Description

German drama exploring the nature of fascism. Rainer Wegner (Jurgen Vogel) is a high school teacher who is less than enthusiastic when he finds himself relegated to teaching the concept of autocracy as part of the school's project week. His students, similarly uninspired, approach the project with complacency and apathy - until Rainer hits on the novel idea of devising an unorthodox experiment within the class. To show what life would be like under fascism, Rainer begins to introduce various disciplines for his pupils to follow. However, the experiment quickly grows out of control and develops into an exclusive cult - 'the wave' - with its own uniform and salute. Even the self-professed anarchist Rainer starts to become intoxicated with his new status as cult leader. The film is based on the novel by Todd Strasser, which in turn was inspired by true events that took place in Palo Alto, California.

Product Description

United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: German ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Alternative Footage, Deleted Scenes, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Music Video, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: In an attempt to engage his students in politics, a high school teacher takes the controversial decision to turn the classroom into a Nazi-style dictatorship. But what starts out as an innocent social experiment ends in tragedy when the roots of fascism begin to take hold of the students. Before long, notions of discipline and community give way to more sinister methods of intimidation and violence as the movement grows in power. Can the teacher quell the wave before it engulfs the entire school? Based on actual events, THE WAVE is a gripping drama that delves deep into the fascist mindset, exposing all its flaws and contradictions through the characters' newly-adopted behaviours and attitudes. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: European Film Awards, Sundance Film Festival, ...The Wave ( Die Welle )

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Based on the book "The Wave" by Morton Rhue [which was itself inspired by a social experiment called "The Third Wave" that took place at a Californian high school in 1967] this fantastic German film demonstrates the simplistic but dangerous appeal that fascism, socialism and other collectivist ideologies can have for people who feel they are adrift or for those seeking easy answers to their own and society's problems - i.e. mostly, but not exclusively, the young.

Well acted, gripping and thought-provoking, it tells the story of a one week project devised by a German high school teacher to show his students the ease with which an autocracy can be established. "Do you think another dictatorship would be impossible in Germany?" Herr Wenger asks his pupils at the start of the project. "It's never going to happen again" replies one. "We're beyond all that" says another and, so it seems, they are. Indeed, the hedonistic, disorderly world they inhabit with its techno parties, prolific drug-taking, on-line social networking and general decadence seems about as far removed from Germany's National Socialist past as it's possible to get. Their home lives too lack order as their post-1960s, liberal parents engage in over-familiar mateyness with their children or lead sexually promiscuous lives in front of them. As one character points out her parents are just "too cool". Needless to say, craving the order, discipline and stability that is lacking both in their home lives and in the 'anything goes' society around them, these young people take to fascism like ducks to water. They are, to varying degrees, quite prepared to sacrifice their individuality for conformity - for the sense of belonging they get by being a part of something greater than themselves and the empowerment they derive from the unity of the group. Very quickly though, perhaps too quickly in my view, the project begins to run out of control both inside and outside of the school. Even the teacher himself becomes intoxicated by the deference his students begin to show towards him as his manipulative project unfolds.

There are, of course, dissenting voices and not everybody accepts the new order. I won't spoil the ending but, suffice to say, the truism that the simplistic remedies to society's ills promised by fascistic & socialistic ideology hold the most appeal for the most damaged means that there isn't a happy ending. This is a terrific film with a message that is particularly relevant to young people growing up in Britain today. Watch it.
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars From people to masses 18 Mar 2010
Format:DVD
From people into masses, from nice young boys and girls into a cohort of willing extremists. This is an old and very up to date question: How was it possible to create devout and fanatic monsters as the communists and the nazis did, and a lot of other creeds do today? The answer is unpleasant: With indoctrination, group pressure and a load of propaganda (and of course censoring all dissidents) it is possible everywhere with a very good chance of getting the majority with you. This theme has been shown in many films, from different angles; the conclusion in Dead Poet's Society from a rather positive point, but here in The Wave in a much more direct and undisguised way. This is a film for teenagers (and their parents no doubt) who will say, almost to a man, this could not happen here. What the film shows is that it could and many of us have seen it happen in real life, although in small proportions. If you have seen a few demonstrations (or have tried people who have been running amok in them) you will take this film as a good learning. My children are now young grownups, but they both saw The Wave and came to the conclusion: 'We have seen a lot of people who could be in this sort of mass movement'. The plot may be forseeable, but its idea is a very good one, to watch out. This film is really good, and also contains a warning to us who are privileged to live in a free society. The Wave is an inoculation for the democratic ideas, it must be renewed. Watch it and you will agree!
Gunnar Adell
form. dep. director of Public Prosecution, Sweden
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48 of 53 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Die Welle 30 Nov 2008
Format:DVD
A real thought-provoking and interesting film. I knew little of the story before taking the sixth form German students from my school to a viewing. We all came away shocked and entertained, shocked by the possibilities and entertained by the drama and suspense. It may put some people off that the film is in German but it is worth seeing nevertheless. For those of you who speak German, the language is that of the everyday schoolyard, not of the textbook so exposes the student to a different aspect of culture and society.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!!
My mum and sister can't believe how good this movie was.
They absolutely love it, they especially love one actor since he was in the movie "sinking of the... Read more
Published 14 days ago by Leo Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful film.
This is a really surprisingly good film. Very deep and thought-provoking. Lots of people should watch it. It comes highly recommended.
Published 1 month ago by Gabriele C Eddleston
5.0 out of 5 stars Real Life
This should be shown in schools. To display that we are all capable of being indoctrinated and mislead.Please see if you could do that.
Published 1 month ago by dave moore
4.0 out of 5 stars dvd
deeply chilling, i was scared at how easily everything escalated. really enjoyed this film and look forward to watching it again
Published 2 months ago by Natalie Rehling
5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely important film
This is an amazing film. It teaches without being preachy. To those who say Facism can't happen here it's a must watch. Read more
Published 6 months ago by M
5.0 out of 5 stars The Mass Psychology of Fascism
A German film about authoritarianism, based on an American social experiment on identity undertaken in the 1960's; intriguing...are they going to go for the obvious?... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Great film, very entertaining and well done. My friends and I really enjoyed it and still talk about it. The DVD arrived quickly, no problems. Oh and it was a bargain. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mill
4.0 out of 5 stars Klasse!
Taut and thought-provoking, with nods to the past, present and future state of society's youth, this must have been tricky subject matter to tackle in Germany. Read more
Published 17 months ago by M. White
4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful drama (if a touch melodramatic)
I enjoyed this film, it`s a good story acted well; it`s not without its flaws though. The premise of the "rebel" teacher finding an interesting way to discuss autocracy during... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Little Cat Voom
5.0 out of 5 stars The Wave
Brilliant film between the teacher and the pupils who wanted a challenge for a democracy but it went wrong in the end. Really brillliant!!!!
Published 20 months ago by Mrs. A. MULLINS
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