Michael Haneke has long been one of the world’s most consistently excellent directors, and now he has a new ribbon in his cap: the Palme d’Or — the world’s most prestigious prize.

Das Weiße Band (The White Ribbon) concerns the happenings in a rural pre-WWI German village. Shot in stunning black-and-white, the film made an immediate splash at Cannes and no one was too surprised to see it walk off with the top prize. Haneke weaves together a tale of punishment and order, where children are viciously beaten for the slightest offense, before the town’s strict moral code begins to fall apart. The film is both a moving drama, and an artistically-told parable for Germany’s eventual fall into fascism.

I haven’t been able to turn up a trailer, but here’s a short scene from the movie. And don’t forget, if you want to check out the full list of Palme d’Or winners, there’s a collection waiting for you.

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