Directed by: Michael Haneke
Staring: Christian Friedel, Ulrich Tukur, Burghart Klaussner and Susanne Lothar
An air of mystery hangs over a German village on the eve of World War 1 as a series of shocking events unfold in this part thriller.
Explanations are implied as we unravel the relations between villagers in a repressive society, while in counterpoint, a romance blossoms. Elegantly shot in monochrome we are drawn via each scene into a finely detailed world which appears almost timeless with its echoes of a feudal society. However in the final scene we are reminded of the ominous future waiting in the wings and left to decide how the events we have witnessed point to what was to follow.
The White Ribbon casts a cinematic spell and is arguably one of the major films of the past few years.