Undescribable Perfection

That was an excellent one.

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

I remember learning about "the wave" in school, we had watched the older made for TV movie. Rainer Wenger reminded me of some of the teachers I had in high school. Some of the students's attitudes reminded me of how we felt and acted in school. The teachers did, at times, get us to stand up and move around to wake us up, so it's not like Wenger was doing anything that would necessarily stand out at first. The trouble I had with this story-line were the bizarre fights and run-ins the students had with townie anarchists (only way I can describe them) and the ending. I doubt Germany has roving anarchists looking to fight teenagers. That part makes no sense to me. I thought the way Wenger was ending the experiment was realistic. He had the students reflect on their experience in The Wave and read some excerpts on stage in an auditorium. In real life, Ron Jones did enjoy the power of being the leader beyond what he imagined and it took him a while to come to terms with that. Wenger was much quicker to realize that and to admit that to the students. I also had trouble with how into "The Wave" Tim got. Enough to buy a gun, shoot a fellow student and himself? That's a fast progression to happen in a week. Even with those two troubles I feel this movie showed how fascism/autocracy could start and rise. We're all susceptible.

More than a great movie, the Wave is a great story. Although it is based on real events, I did my homework and the story of the movie is much older that the film would make you think. It is based on an experiment conducted in 1967 by an American teacher who wanted to demonstrate how easily a movement similar to the Nazis could get ignited again. The movie is socially magnificent. It shows you how a group works and functions in unity under certain circumstances, and how easily individuals lose their ability to think outside the boundaries set by the group they have formed themselves. What I enjoyed is the fact that there was tension throughout, and you kept asking yourself how far would the group go and when the teacher who started it would find himself unable to control the force of the Wave. The Wave may not be the best movie you'll ever see, but it's well worth a watch.

It was on national television last night. I was curious to see it after a brief description on the net. And it was good.It says that it is based on the true story. I don't know how much of it really did happen, but the premise of the new group calling themselves 'The Wave' which is made of high school students is pretty interesting and who develop from a class experiment to a movement in just 3 days... Whoa! This is something that I don't really believe can happen. It may maybe in the course of 3 weeks... The acting of all teenagers was good. I guess the main male role is good too. The notion of new fascism or totalitarianism is kinda scary and it was a bit uncomfortable to see how people react when they are in a mob or a group. It is something that scares me personally. I give this movie a note 8. I have seen some other experiment type of movies with students, but this one is the best - from what I remember.

There is such a fine, fragile line that separates us, self-proclaimed western, civilized people from a horde. This powerful, albeit a bit contrived movie, makes a clear and strong point about it. Simple high school experiment about autocracy turns into a hypnotic introduction to mass madness. Popular, unconventional history teacher tries to drum into his students heads the danger of fascism and it all goes pear-shaped. The basic human need for belonging and acceptance can turn into a primitive, tribal hatred of anything different and out of the so-called normal in society around us. You don't have to be a raging liberal to find countless examples of this through history and sadly today. Passionate, well directed and acted movie with perhaps a bit rushed and untidy point, but nevertheless important reminder of fragility of the order of the world we live in.