The White Ribbon

This film isn't answering questions, it's asking them. The life, and especially the handling and punishment of children in a small community in a village in north germany stands for what is happening the next decades in germany. And thanks to a great director and an extraordinary cast it does it in a very impressive way.

Fascinating arthouse-whodunit. Like in 'Gosford Park', the mystery gives way to social commentary. It's not really about the culprit(s); rather, the heinous acts themselves and understanding the environment they take place in are the real concerns. Haneke's best film (coldness meets raw emotion, recalling Bergman stylistically), it deals with authority abuse, of both the upper-class and patriarchal kind, and asks: what morals are the children invested with in this sort of world?

Authorities (paternal and otherwise) that are repressive (sexually and otherwise) will engender reactive violence in others. That is the utterly conventional message of this tedious movie. As with FUNNY GAMES, an elaborate apparatus is created to deliver a very small (and possibly not very genuine) lesson, but at least the earlier film was a genuinely tense experience. It has even caused me to pay more attention to the creeping doubts I had about CACHÉ for similar reasons.

The film is too long, full of tedious and boring characters. Haneke also seems to have no intention of entertaining the audience and the film gives you no pay off. Learn how to end a movie you douche bag. The "message" was trite and unbelievably stupid. Also, the entire child abuse is bad and something you shouldn't do is obvious to anyone who has ever been alive before. This has been common knowledge for literally DECADES. But thanks for the insight, I guess you are an intellectual? rofl

A compelling mystery that dissolves into a fresh take on the human condition. With so many unanswered questions, I awaited a shocking finale, which was satisfying if a bit underwhelming. However, it abounds with breathtaking camera work (reminiscent of Bergman) and flawless acting (worthy of its Palme D'or distinction) that has filled me with renewed appreciation for this fairly muddled medium.