The White Ribbon Review

Once in a while a film maker will come along and break the mold. Michael Haneke does just that. I really appreciate people who are trying to do something different. Not just different for the hell of it but trying to really say something with their films.

The White Ribbon is the newest film from Writer/Director Michael Haneke and it won the Palm d'Or at Cannes this year. I can see why it won. It's extremely well written, acted and directed. The cinematography was FUCKING BRILLIANT. The film is shot in black and white but it doesn't look like your grandpa's black and white movies. I would say the best thing to compare to is a really artistic black and white photo. The lighting is insane.

The film is VERY slow and runs about two and a half hours. It's all in german and you have to read a hell of a lot. There is NO music track. In that sense it's like a dogme film but only in that sense.

The film takes place in a small Austrian village pre WWII.
There is narration throughout and it's obvious Haneke wants you to feel like you are watching the happenings of this small village instead of feeling like you are a part of it. The film deals with quite a few issues but its main focus is on how someone could become something so evil as a Nazi. Basically the film is about the birth of fascism. But the message is just as relevant today.

Due to it's very slow pacing it lost a point for me but i will still give this movie an 8 out of 10. RECOMMEND!



And here is the rest of it.