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The white ribbon (Das weisse band - eine deutsche kindergeschichte) - Leonie Benesch, Josef Bierbichler, Rainer Bock, Michael Haneke

Threat advisory: Elevated - Significant risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

In a village in Protestant northern Germany, on the eve of World War I, the children of a church and school run by the village schoolteacher and their families experience a series of bizarre incidents that inexplicably assume the characteristics of a punishment ritual. Who could be responsible for such bizarre transgressions?

Theatrical propaganda posters

The white ribbon (Das weisse band - eine deutsche kindergeschichte) theatrical one sheet image

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film crime Germany mystery German children school mystery history early 1900s art-house peasant farmers

Persons of interest

Christian Friedel .... The School Teacher
Ernst Jacobi .... The School Teacher (voice)
Leonie Benesch .... Eva
Ulrich Tukur .... The Baron
Ursina Lardi .... The Baronin
Fion Mutert .... Sigi
Michael Kranz .... The Home Teacher
Burghart Klaußner .... The Pastor
Steffi Kühnert .... The Pastor's Wife
Maria-Victoria Dragus .... Klara
Leonard Proxauf .... Martin
Levin Henning .... Adolf
Johanna Busse .... Margarete
Thibault Sérié .... Gustav
Josef Bierbichler .... The Steward
Gabriela Maria Schmeide .... The Steward's Wife
Janina Fautz .... Erna
Enno Trebs .... Georg
Theo Trebs .... Ferdinand
Rainer Bock .... The Doctor
Susanne Lothar .... The Midwife
Eddy Grahl .... Karli
Branko Samarovski .... The Farmer
Klaus Manchen .... The Farmer (voice)
Birgit Minichmayr .... Frieda
Sebastian Hülk .... Max
Kai-Peter Malina .... Karl
Kristina Kneppek .... Else
Stephanie Amarell .... Sophie
Aaron Denkel .... Kurti
Detlev Buck .... Eva's Father
Anne-Kathrin Gummich .... Eva's Mother
Vincent Krüger .... Fritz
Michael Haneke .... Screenwriter
Michael Haneke .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

The white ribbon (Das weisse band - eine deutsche kindergeschichte) official movie sites:

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The white ribbon (Das weisse band - eine deutsche kindergeschichte) film production notes
The white ribbon (Das weisse band - eine deutsche kindergeschichte) movie trailers:

Awards and film festivals:

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS - Oscars) 2010: Nominated: Achievement in Cinematography (Christian Berger), Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
American Society of Cinematographers, USA 2010: Nominated: ASC Award Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases (Christian Berger)
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) 2010: Nominated: Best Film Not in the English Language (Stefan Arndt, Veit Heiduschka, Margaret Ménégoz, Michael Haneke)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2010: Nominated: Critics Choice Award Best Foreign Language Film
Cannes Film Festival 2009: Won: Cinema Prize of the French National Education System (Michael Haneke), FIPRESCI Prize Competition (Michael Haneke), Golden Palm (Michael Haneke)
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2009: Won: Best Foreign Language Film
European Film Awards 2009: Won: Best Director (Michael Haneke), Best Film, Best Screenwriter (Michael Haneke); Nominated Best Cinematographer (Christian Berger)
German Film Festival (Australia) 2009: Screening
Golden Globes, USA (Hollywood Foreign Press Association) 2010: Won: Best Foreign Language Film
London Critics Circle Film Awards 2010: Nominated: Director of the Year (Michael Haneke), Film of the Year, Foreign Language Film of the Year, Screenwriter of the Year (Michael Haneke)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 2009: Won: Best Cinematography (Christian Berger)
National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA 2010: Won: Best Cinematography (Christian Berger)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards 2009: Won: Best Cinematography (Christian Berger)
Online Film Critics Society Awards 2010: Nominated: Best Film Not in the English Language
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2009: Won: FIPRESCI Film of the Year (Michael Haneke)
International Press Academy Golden Satellite Awards 2009: Nominated: Satellite Award Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language Film
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2009: Won: Best Foreign Language Film
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards 2009: Nominated: Best Foreign Film

NB: German, Italian, Latin and Polish language dialogue with English language subtitles
Studios and distributors:

Transmission Films

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

I'm used to a bit of weirdness from the Fatherland but The white ribbon (Das weisse band - eine deutsche kindergeschichte) is out there with the best of them in that it's one of those small films about nothing happening in a nowhere place where nothing has happened since the Romans got their arses kicked out. You haven't seen so many Nordic types since your last Nuremberg rally.

What keeps you watching is the mystery: there are plenty of suspects for weirdness in this village but every clue points in a different direction. Then comes the part where you either like or loathe this film: the investigating amateur detective moves away and never finds the guilty person/s. Agatha Christie this is not. If you adore Agatha and her ultimate summations then you'll loathe this film. If, however, you like crime with a dose of reality you'll leave the cinema thinking and wondering. This is a very (continental) European approach to film; you know - beginning, middle.

All told, The white ribbon (Das weisse band - eine deutsche kindergeschichte) is a harsh film about peasants suffering under their feudal lord. If you don't expect anything more than that then you'll get a lot out of it. You won't enjoy it, but.

The crime, Germany, mystery movie The white ribbon (Das weisse band - eine deutsche kindergeschichte) is directed by Michael Haneke and stars Leonie Benesch, Josef Bierbichler, Rainer Bock.