Jürgen Vogel,
Frederick Lau,
Max Riemelt,
Jennifer Ulrich,
Christiane Paul
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Germany today. During a project week, high school teacher Rainer Wenger (Jurgen Vogel) comes up with an experiment in order to explain to his students how totalitarian governments work. A role-playing... read more
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Flixster Reviews (1,086)
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December 5, 2011Based on actual events. Although the actual experiment took place in Palo Alto, California, this film takes place in Germany. A teacher decides to undertake a project in his class where his students believe that a dictatorship can never happen in Germany ever again. For the week,... read more
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April 11, 2011This German drama about a teacher's project of showing his class how easily people fall into fascism traps starts out somewhat slow, taking its time to establish the characters. And even once the experiments starts to get more and more out of hand, the drama is never taken too fa... read more
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January 11, 2011It's a very interesting and important subject, but the film itself is very average.
To those who don't know, this experiment actually took place in California, in 1967, but imagine that it could have happened in Germany is really more scaring and worrisome.
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December 14, 2009Very well written and directed, this film is a fascinating, thought-provoking study on men's terrifying disposition to let themselves be led by a fascist-like autocracy that can take root in any society.
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September 17, 2009"Can there be another dictatorship in Germany?"
A high school teacher's unusual experiment to demonstrate to his students what life is like under a dictatorship spins horribly out of control when he forms a social unit with a life of its own.... read more -
May 2, 2009A high school teacher takes an experimental approach to his students' autocracy project. Demonstrating the ease at how fascism grew in Germany, he accidentally ends up creating a cult of his own.
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February 26, 2009What can save a movie like this from being just an educational lecture is a bit of ambition which this movie lacks, The first half is actually good but then it goes downhill & leads to the predictable ending, & I must say this, that annoying supposed to be smart & aware of everyt... read more
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January 30, 2009Like another German film Das Experiment, Die Welle translates a simple social experiment into a fascinating and tense drama. Everything is exaggerated, but it is done so in quite believable terms in order for us to see the most extreme outcomes. Die Welle is engrossing stuff. It ... read more
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January 15, 2009Passable German treatise on the potential for fascistic ideas to appeal to a modern generation but I didn't believe the pupil's relationship with their tutor would precipitate the radicalism so quickly if at all.
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January 29, 2012fb1350754613Based on a true story, the movie is even more powerful than the book. The Wave is a stylistic look at fascism and dictatorship. It's also sends the perfect message of how vulnerable kids are to an idea. Solid performances, great plot, and I liked the setting, which is Germany. I ... read more
Critic Reviews
May 26, 2011
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
January 30, 2008
James Greenberg, Hollywood Reporter
Seductive and horrifying at the same time...The film opens with a rush of energy and doesn't let up.
December 9, 2011
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
The inclusion of an engrossing (yet expected) finale ensures that The Wave ends on an exceedingly positive note... Full Review
June 3, 2011
Kalvin Henely, Slant Magazine
The Wave is top-heavy and light-footed, racing its winning idea-that fascism can still be attractive to some, even in modern Germany-past itself. Full Review
May 27, 2011
Leslie Stonebraker, New York Press
The Wave forces a confrontation with the seductive potential in all of us to abuse and be abused by the exercise of singular power in the name of good. Full Review
March 14, 2009
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
Brilliantly written and directed, wonderfully performed by an ensemble cast, and haunting in its intensity Full Review
September 19, 2008
Derek Malcolm, This is London
It's a strong film but in the end a rather obvious one. Full Review
September 19, 2008
Carmen Grey, Total Film
A seductive, button-nudging probe of pack-frenzy mentality. Some credibility's lost in the rush to combustion point, but the brawny direction and convincing cast make this a gripping cautionary tale. Full Review
September 19, 2008
Tim Evans, Sky Movies
Nevertheless, as a disturbing indictment of the course that could be taken by disaffected youth, The Wave makes a big splash. Full Review
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The Wave
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