Film: The White Ribbon
Cast includes: Christian Friedel, Leonie Benesch, Burghart Klaußner
Screenplay/direction: Michael Haneke (Caché)
Genre: Mystery/drama, German with subtitles
In brief: The year is 1913, the place is a small picturesque but austere village in northern Germany shot in black and white, with every scene looking like an artist photograph. The thing about this picturesque village is that strange events are happening. Someone put a wire between two Birch trees at the entrance to the doctor’s house. When he rode home on his horse late at night, he was knocked to the ground, and his horse was killed. Then there was an accident at the sawmill. But it’s not just adults that have “accidents.” Even the children seem to be prone to misfortune.
It’s the local schoolteacher who becomes our eyes and ears into the workings of the town. He’s from a nearby town, so he’s a bit of an outsider, as is Eva who works as a governess at the baron’s home. As the movie develops, we find the interaction between the schoolteacher and Eva to be a welcome respite from the other people in the town. It’s hard to put your finger on just what’s wrong. But some things are obvious… the pastor is psychologically abusive toward his family, as well as to the other children in the town. He punishes his children by making them wear white ribbons because white is the color of innocence. There’s also something up with the midwife and the doctor that doesn’t look so nice. The town’s children seem downright creepy at times. Is young Martin suffering from melancholia because he fondles himself? Shouldn’t someone be trying to get to the bottom of all the “accidents”?
Melancholia is a feeling that we all may have, as we try to take in the unfortunate events in The White Ribbon. While the film is visually beautiful, it’s emotionally difficult. The entire story is told in a very low-key style. Nothing is given to us. Everything we take away from this film we have to work out for ourselves. It’s controversial and dark. Although the townspeople don’t seem to be in any hurry to work things out, audiences wants to know what’s going on and what it all means. There are no easy answers.
2 popped kernels
Popped kernels for the beautiful production. Unpopped kernels for the perplexing darkness.
