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The Wave

Original title: Die Welle
  • 20082008
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
111K
YOUR RATING
The Wave (2008)
The Wave: Clip 8
Play clip1:07
Watch The Wave: Clip 8
4 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaThriller
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
111K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Dennis Gansel
  • Writers
    • Ron Jones(short story and original protocols)
    • Johnny Dawkins(screenplay "The Wave")
    • Ron Birnbach(screenplay "The Wave")
  • Stars
    • Jürgen Vogel
    • Frederick Lau
    • Max Riemelt
  • Director
    • Dennis Gansel
  • Writers
    • Ron Jones(short story and original protocols)
    • Johnny Dawkins(screenplay "The Wave")
    • Ron Birnbach(screenplay "The Wave")
  • Stars
    • Jürgen Vogel
    • Frederick Lau
    • Max Riemelt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 134User reviews
    • 101Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos4

    The Wave: Clip 8
    Clip 1:07
    Watch The Wave: Clip 8
    The Wave: Clip 2
    Clip 0:41
    Watch The Wave: Clip 2
    The Wave: Clip 6
    Clip 1:43
    Watch The Wave: Clip 6
    The Wave: Clip 4
    Clip 0:49
    Watch The Wave: Clip 4

    Photos338

    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    Liv Lisa Fries in The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)
    The Wave (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jürgen Vogel
    Jürgen Vogel
    • Rainer Wenger
    Frederick Lau
    Frederick Lau
    • Tim Stoltefuss
    Max Riemelt
    Max Riemelt
    • Marco
    Jennifer Ulrich
    Jennifer Ulrich
    • Karo
    Christiane Paul
    Christiane Paul
    • Anke Wenger
    Jacob Matschenz
    Jacob Matschenz
    • Dennis
    Cristina do Rego
    Cristina do Rego
    • Lisa
    Elyas M'Barek
    Elyas M'Barek
    • Sinan
    Maximilian Vollmar
    • Bomber
    Max Mauff
    Max Mauff
    • Kevin
    • (as Maximilian Mauff)
    Ferdinand Schmidt-Modrow
    • Ferdi
    Tim Oliver Schultz
    Tim Oliver Schultz
    • Jens
    Amelie Kiefer
    • Mona
    Fabian Preger
    • Kaschi
    Odine Johne
    Odine Johne
    • Maja
    Tino Mewes
    Tino Mewes
    • Schädel
    Karoline Teska
    • Miri
    Marco Bretscher-Coschignano
    • Dominik
    • Director
      • Dennis Gansel
    • Writers
      • Ron Jones(short story and original protocols)
      • Johnny Dawkins(screenplay "The Wave")
      • Ron Birnbach(screenplay "The Wave")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on the novel "The Wave" by Todd Strasser (under the pen name Morton Rhue), a fictionalized account of the "Third Wave" teaching experiment by Ron Jones that took place in a Cubberley High School history class in Palo Alto, California in April 1967.
    • Goofs
      Although set somewhere in western Germany, all policemen wear insignia of the state of Berlin.
    • Quotes

      Rainer Wenger: So you don't think there could be another dictatorship in Germany?

      Jens: No, we are too enlightened now.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening and closing credits appear as graffiti.
    • Connections
      Featured in Die Johannes B. Kerner Show: Episode dated 12 March 2008 (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Rock 'n' Roll High School
      Written by Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone

      Performed by EL*KE

      Produced by Mirko Schaffer

      ©1980 WB Music Corp. and Taco Tunes

    User reviews134

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Good twists / no black & white opinion
    This is a German film (subtitled) about a school project looking at autocracy (a la Nazi Germany). In order for the teacher to persuade his pupils that autocracy remains a real threat to democracy, he persuades them to take part in a class dictatorship. The key difference between this and your average school classroom is that he convinces the pupils not just to obey but also to want his every command. Of course the project turns bad and things get scary.

    What I liked about the film was that it did not treat the pupils as "just kids"; they had brains, opinions, and their own ethics too. It is not a very black and white in it's opinion, you could draw some distinct opinion from the film but I suggest that there are several different opinions that are equally as valid. It keeps you guessing what is going to happen & even deliberately misleads you.
    helpful•37
    16
    • two_truths
    • Sep 27, 2008

    FAQ1

    • What song is played when...?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 27, 2011 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • France
    • Official site
      • Constantin Film [Germany]
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • La ola
    • Filming locations
      • Berlin, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Rat Pack Filmproduktion
      • Constantin Film
      • B.A. Produktion
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $32,350,637
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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