The Wave (2011)
Average Rating: 5.7/10
Reviews Counted: 17
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 6
Based on a true story, though relocated to Germany, this thought provoking film has an interesting premise, but suffers through a lack of believability.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1
Based on a true story, though relocated to Germany, this thought provoking film has an interesting premise, but suffers through a lack of believability.
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Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 9,977
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Movie Info
Germany today. During a project week, high school teacher Rainer Wenger (Jurgen Vogel) comes up with an experiment in order to explain to his students how totalitarian governments work. A role-playing game with tragic results begins. Within a few days, what began as harmless notions, like discipline and community, builds into a real movement: The Wave. By the third day, the students start ostracizing and threatening others. When the conflict finally erupts into violence at an intramural water
Jun 3, 2011 Limited
Constantin Film
- Official Site
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Cast
-
Jürgen Vogel
Rainer Wenger -
Frederick Lau
Tim -
Max Riemelt
Marco -
Jennifer Ulrich
Karo -
Christiane Paul
Anke Wenger -
Elyas M'Barek
Sinan -
Jakob Matschenz
Dennis -
Cristina do Rego
Lisa -
Maximilian Mauff
Kevin -
Maximilian Vollmar
Bomber -
Ferdinand Schmidt-Modrow
Ferdi -
Tim Oliver Schultz
Jens -
Amelie Kiefer
Mona -
Fabian Preger
Kaschi -
Odine Johne
Maja
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The Wave Trailer & Photos
All Critics (17) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (11) | Rotten (6)
"The Wave" feels overdetermined and ploddingly dramatized.
Top CriticStill, the quicksilver editing and thumping score mean it's zippily put together, and an undeniable willingness to engage with a youthful audience is admirably inclusive.
Seductive and horrifying at the same time...The film opens with a rush of energy and doesn't let up.
The inclusion of an engrossing (yet expected) finale ensures that The Wave ends on an exceedingly positive note...
The Wave is top-heavy and light-footed, racing its winning idea-that fascism can still be attractive to some, even in modern Germany-past itself.
The Wave forces a confrontation with the seductive potential in all of us to abuse and be abused by the exercise of singular power in the name of good.
Brilliantly written and directed, wonderfully performed by an ensemble cast, and haunting in its intensity
It's a strong film but in the end a rather obvious one.
Thought-provoking stuff.
A seductive, button-nudging probe of pack-frenzy mentality. Some credibility's lost in the rush to combustion point, but the brawny direction and convincing cast make this a gripping cautionary tale.
Nevertheless, as a disturbing indictment of the course that could be taken by disaffected youth, The Wave makes a big splash.
As it bounds along with its pumping rock playlist, you start to realise that the movie is predictable and slightly scared, and that it doesn't really make sense.
Here is the winner of this week's No Shit Sherlock award: a prime example of the kind of film dead set on telling you what you know already.
It's an interesting and provocative idea somewhat marred by wretched performances from several of the kids and the same whiff of sanctimony and naivety that made The Edukators, another tiresomely right-on film from Germany, such a trial.
An intriguing premise, well performed by the actors and engagingly directed by Gansel, suffers from a script that tries to pack too much into a single week and an ending that feels forced and didactic.
A fascinating notion, convincingly realised.
The film is persuasive that fascism can take root in any environment. Strong performances all the way.
Audience Reviews for The Wave
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Rainer Wenger: Do you feel it? Thats the power of unity!
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- Rainer Wenger: You think a dictatorship isn't possible today?
Discussion Forum
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Latest News on The Wave
September 19, 2008:
Further Reading: Making Waves as Die Welle ArrivesKim compares and contrasts two versions of the same story as a German version of the story prepares...
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Foreign Titles
- Die Welle (DE)
- The Wave (Die Welle) (UK)
