OK, it's always difficult to watch a movie, when you know the book/story. And its more difficult with this special story, especially in Germany. Why is the book so famous here? It may have to do with the fact, that the original story demonstrates that fascism itself is not in the German genome, but could happen anywhere, even in hippie-esquire California....
Now, keeping that in mind and knowing that "Die Welle" was forced in book form upon generations of German students, what can we say about the movie? To me, the movie simply doesn't work as a film. Once you have recognized the point (immediately, if you know the book), the movie becomes too obvious in its pedagogical agenda, the characters act way too stereotypically, the whole thing basically becomes incredible. the only things that work are the sidelines (Tim, who finds a sense in his live when everybody is made equal, the slight drama of jealousy), and, in fact, the ending. These are the only things that are not completely predictable, and that do not tend to point a finger at the audience, trying to teach them.
I don't agree with many comments that say the movie let's you thinking why the wave is bad, even if it has positive effects on community members at times. This is inherent to fascist communities, not to this very movie. In fact, the movie doesn't want you to think, it's always pointing at the bad side! Only exception here - see above: SPOILER:
In the end, you are at times really tempted to believe that the movie left the book behind (it did after all), and that Wenger (the teacher) might have gone over to really become the fascist leader he depicted before (he didn't) END SPOILER
Anyway, if you want to see an entertaining movie about group pressure getting out of hands and going terribly astray - watch "Das Experiment" - now that's what I call a movie!
m.
Now, keeping that in mind and knowing that "Die Welle" was forced in book form upon generations of German students, what can we say about the movie? To me, the movie simply doesn't work as a film. Once you have recognized the point (immediately, if you know the book), the movie becomes too obvious in its pedagogical agenda, the characters act way too stereotypically, the whole thing basically becomes incredible. the only things that work are the sidelines (Tim, who finds a sense in his live when everybody is made equal, the slight drama of jealousy), and, in fact, the ending. These are the only things that are not completely predictable, and that do not tend to point a finger at the audience, trying to teach them.
I don't agree with many comments that say the movie let's you thinking why the wave is bad, even if it has positive effects on community members at times. This is inherent to fascist communities, not to this very movie. In fact, the movie doesn't want you to think, it's always pointing at the bad side! Only exception here - see above: SPOILER:
In the end, you are at times really tempted to believe that the movie left the book behind (it did after all), and that Wenger (the teacher) might have gone over to really become the fascist leader he depicted before (he didn't) END SPOILER
Anyway, if you want to see an entertaining movie about group pressure getting out of hands and going terribly astray - watch "Das Experiment" - now that's what I call a movie!
m.