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      The White Ribbon

      R Released Dec 30, 2009 2h 24m Drama War List
      85% 149 Reviews Tomatometer 79% 50,000+ Ratings Audience Score Using their social status and harsh punishments, a baron (Ulrich Tukur), a doctor (Rainer Bock) and a pastor (Burghart Klaussner) rule over a small German village. One day, the doctor falls off his horse after it trips over a wire strung between two trees. More pranks follow, seemingly without reason, all directed at the village's upper class and growing increasingly more brutal with time. There are no suspects, but a local schoolteacher (Christian Friedel) has his suspicions. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Jan 16 Buy Now

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      Critics Consensus

      The White Ribbon effectively utilizes tension and a bleak atmosphere to deliver a thought-provoking examination of nascent fascism.

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      Audience Reviews

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      muel t Incredible atmosphere, a feeling of absolute dread. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/12/24 Full Review Leaburn This film was good 👍🏼 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Thomas M The best international movie ever made! With the best cinematography ever done in a movie! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/26/22 Full Review Wolfgang G Das weiße Band – Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte ist ein Film des Regisseurs Michael Haneke. Ein Film mit einer hoheitsvollen Strenge, die zu Unterdrückung, Demütigung und Unglück führen. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/19/22 Full Review isla s This is a somewhat uncomfortable, or perhaps I should say sobering, watch. It's got quite an arty feel to it and it seems to be about the fears of adults and parents, their children and their reactions to other peoples actions, also more generally repressing things society doesn't deem normal. It's a bit bleak - indeed its in black and white. It's somewhat thoughtful but not a very cheery film, of course. If you like this sort of world cinema then you may enjoy it but otherwise I wouldn't especially recommend it as such, no. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review William L Alternative title: 'Children of the Cabbages'. Think Stephen King meets Ingmar Bergman. The White Ribbon is a film about human evil, told in many forms - cold indifference, a lack of empathy, excessive self-importance at the expense of others, perception, cruelty, and religious vigor to name a few. It doesn't exactly take a stance against these actions, avoiding painting any one character as a bulwark against the tide of hate, which is part of the point - anger begets anger and violence begets violence in a cycle that is essentially unbreakable. The black and white cinematography emphasizes the brutal nature of this fictional village that seems like a sort of hell, just one with a veneer of gentility and manners. The warmer aspects of humanity are deliberately snuffed out on as a matter of social practice, whether because of a priest's piety or a schoolteacher's rigidness. Sharply shot and featuirng some very good performances from its cohort of child actors, The White Ribbon is one of Haneke's more grounded (but not necessarily accessible) films, trading in his traditional fields of estrangement but with a morose, often unnerving atmosphere. But hey, he's bleak because there's often plenty of distressing material when you take a look at human nature. Apparently Christian Berger was nominated for the Oscar for Best Cinematography for this film. Which is odd, because looking at it you'd think Andrew Wyeth had come back from the dead to frame the imagery, but in a motion picture set in Germany for some reason. (4/5) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/10/22 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Consensus: The White Ribbon Is Certified Fresh Cannes 2009: RT’s 10 Must-See Movies Cannes 2009: The Tomato Report – Haneke’s The White Ribbon Scoops Palme d’Or

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      The White Ribbon

      Sebastian Hulk as Max, The Farmer's son, in "The White Ribbon." Thibault Serie as Gustav (The Pastor's younger son) in "The White Ribbon." Michael Kranz as The Tutor in "The White Ribbon." Leonard Proxauf as Martin (The Pastor's son) in "The White Ribbon." A scene from the film "The White Ribbon." Rainer Bock as the Doctor in "The White Ribbon." (Center) Fion Mutert as Sigmund (The Baron's son) in "The White Ribbon." A scene from the film "The White Ribbon." (L-R) Christian Friedel as The Schoolteacher and Leonie Benesch as Eva in "The White Ribbon." A scene from the film "The White Ribbon." View more photos

      Critics Reviews

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      Deborah Ross The Spectator Haneke's rigorous control of his material is so unerring, and the acting so eerily and chillingly perfect, it works simply as a portrait of this community at this particular time. Aug 30, 2018 Full Review Ed Koch The Atlantic Suffice it to say that I don't understand the rave reviews that this picture received, and I was not a happy camper when I left the theater. Jan 13, 2018 Full Review Stanley Kauffmann The New Republic As for Haneke's handling of the material, his directing is immaculate. Every moment is the product of a penetrating mind and a steady talent. Sep 20, 2012 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand While I appreciate the stunning visual evocation of the world and the unnerving atmosphere of punitive power and calculated cruelty under the carefully managed pose of piety, I find his sensibility sour and cynical. Jun 11, 2023 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Hanke opens an interrogation so that everyone, on their own, can close it. [Full review in Spanish] Oct 19, 2022 Full Review Carson Timar ButteredPopcorn The White Ribbon might not be worthless, but when one looks at all the parts within the film it feels like the sum should be much greater than it is. Aug 28, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Using their social status and harsh punishments, a baron (Ulrich Tukur), a doctor (Rainer Bock) and a pastor (Burghart Klaussner) rule over a small German village. One day, the doctor falls off his horse after it trips over a wire strung between two trees. More pranks follow, seemingly without reason, all directed at the village's upper class and growing increasingly more brutal with time. There are no suspects, but a local schoolteacher (Christian Friedel) has his suspicions.
      Director
      Michael Haneke
      Producer
      Michael Katz
      Screenwriter
      Michael Haneke
      Distributor
      Sony Pictures Classics
      Production Co
      Lucky Red, X-Filme Creative Pool, Les Films du Losange, Wega Film
      Rating
      R (Some Disturbing Content|Sexuality|Violence)
      Genre
      Drama, War
      Original Language
      German
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 30, 2009, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Aug 13, 2010
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $2.2M
      Runtime
      2h 24m
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