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THE WAVE

DIE WELLE

By Dennis GANSEL

CINE COLOMBIA SAS - as DISTR Theatrical, TV, DVD-video

Thriller - Completed 2008

Germany’s number 1 box-office smash, 15m €. A high school teacher sets up a class experiment to show the dangers of charismatic leadership and strength of

- Year of production
- 2008
- Genres
- Thriller, Drama
- Countries
- GERMANY
- Languages
- GERMAN
- Duration
- 93 mn
- Director(s)
- Dennis GANSEL
- Writer(s)
- Dennis GANSEL, Peter THORWARTH
- Cast
- Jürgen VOGEL, Frederick LAU, Max RIEMELT, Jennifer ULRICH, Christiane PAUL
- ISAN
- 0000-0002-CCFD-0000-4-0000-0000-P
- EIDR
- 10.5240/5A1F-960C-C2AF-9568-9BE7-4
- Producer(s)
- Christian BECKER
- Synopsis
- THE WAVE is based on a real event from a Californian high school in 1967 and transposed to Germany today. A cautionary tale about the roots of fascism. The film opens in a rush of energy with charismatic teacher Rainer Wegner beginning a week long class on autocracy. To indifferent students, it’s a hard sell, but Wegner gets an idea for an experiment: as their leader he asks the students to call him Mr Wegner, chooses the motto “strength through
  discipline”, creates a logo, decides that everyone wears a white shirt, and names the group, ‘The Wave’ adding a secret sign reminiscent of a Nazi salute. Much to their surprise the students find that they like the power of unity and soon this new found discipline spills over to other school activities and newcomers join the group. The Wave gives the kids something to believe in for a change, until they go too far and The Wave spins out of control.