The Wave (2008)

Not Rated   |    |  Drama, Thriller

The Wave (2008) Poster

A high school teacher's 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.

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7.6/10
96,987
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Critic Reviews

Photos

  • Jürgen Vogel in The Wave (2008)
  • Frederick Lau in The Wave (2008)
  • The Wave (2008)
  • Jürgen Vogel and Frederick Lau in The Wave (2008)
  • Frederick Lau in The Wave (2008)
  • The Wave (2008)

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Awards

9 wins & 8 nominations.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
25 December 2008 | Ingeving
9
| Fascinating movie about group dynamics
This movie underlines that man is a social creature. We naturally form groups, groups of friends, of people who like the same music etc. Especially when we are young, belonging to a group is important, it makes our identity, who we are -- as opposed to who everyone else is. And so the teacher in the movie uses what is naturally there, to teach his pupils about autocracy. It shows what happens when you stress that identity, when you stress the sameness, and thus also the otherness of those not belonging to the group. Eventually it shows how easy it is for one, for the group to slip, even without being aware of it. Autocracy isn't dead, it is alive and it is easy. This movie is a must see for everyone, but especially for the young.

Critic Reviews

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Did You Know?

Trivia

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Quotes

Rainer Wenger: So you don't think there could be another dictatorship in Germany?
Jens: No, we are too enlightened now.

Goofs

(at around 15 mins) The teacher is formally called Rainer Wenger, although informally he uses his first name is Rainer, among his students initially and later his surname during the project, Wenger. One might think the principal would use his first name when talking to him, but in Germany when adult colleagues speak to each other, they use their last name when talking to each other, i.e. Herr Wenger.

Crazy Credits

Opening and closing credits appear as graffiti.

Soundtracks

Rock + Roll Queen
Written by Billy Lunn (as William Morgan), Josh Morgan (as Joshua Morgan) and Charlotte Cooper
Performed by The Subways
©Stage Three Music Ltd.

Storyline

Plot Summary

Synopsis (WARNING: Spoilers)

Genres

Drama | Thriller

Details

Release Date:

27 May 2011

Language

German

Country of Origin

Germany

Filming Locations

Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

EUR5,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$32,350,637

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