The Wave

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Christian M A necessary history lesson. In 'The Wave' what matters is not its technical aspects or its appearance typical of a B-movie, but the message it conveys. The way it critiques and performs a direct and explicit autopsy of the mechanisms behind an authoritarian ideology, demonstrating how easy it is to drag a group along dangerous paths without them being fully aware of it. It works as a clear warning about how authoritarian ideas can become part of everyday life. Dennis Gansel and Peter Thorwarth precisely describe how a social model that promises unity and strength can clip the wings of individual freedom mid-flight, to terrifying extremes. The pressure to fit in, to think the same, and to obey without questioning turns people into more rigid, intolerant, and controlled versions of themselves. Its greatest impact lies in how it reveals how easily a seemingly normal community can shift into exclusionary and dangerous dynamics. A representation of social unease, essential for understanding why these forms of power are so destructive. The characters are the emotional heart of the story, adapted from Todd Strasser’s novel. Each actor builds a solid, believable figure with their own personality and reactions consistent with their role within the classroom experiment. A variety of perspectives that allows the film to explore different facets of a dictatorial structure. The cast’s performances are fundamental for everything to land. 'The Wave' is a cinematic lesson as clear as it is unsettling. A reflection on how certain systems of power function and why they can shape individual and collective behavior to alarming levels. A film that should be shown in schools and educational centers as an object of study: not only as a narrative document, but as a reminder of why it is essential to identify, question, and reject any form of authoritarianism wrapped in the appearance of unity or discipline. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/18/25 Full Review eneko g Absolute cinema ✋😐🤚 Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/05/25 Full Review Audience Member Examines the issues raised by Michael Haneke's "White Ribbon". Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/04/24 Full Review Wendel L Direção: Bom Atuação: Ok Roteiro: Bom Caracterização: Ok Soundtrack: Ok Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/25/24 Full Review Petros T This based-on-true-events exploration of fascism might not avoid certain pitfalls (e.g. the array of archetypal characters or the cinematic climax that strays from the real story) but is engaging and suitably unsettling throughout as it hammers home its point culminating in a finale that could've gone any one of several ways. The brief conclusion of the experiment seems an odd choice on Wenger's part though: after all that happened, you'd expect him to devote some time to monitor the aftermath. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/12/24 Full Review Pickatcu 1 I don't think I ever so such mediocre film with such a beautiful character development... Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Wave

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