The White Ribbon (Michael Haneke, 2009)



"I'm not watching The White Ribbon again.
You're not the boss of me."

What's it about? In a small rural German village in the lead up to WWI, a series of unexplained malicious pranks suggest that all is not well amongst the inhabitants. It's an allegory about the origins of terrorism, apparently.

Is it any good? Michael Haneke reminds me of an aggravating university lecturer, who is so opposed to spoon-feeding his students that they just end up getting pissed off with him and study for another question instead. Here we have beautiful and clear B&W photography depicting ugly and obscure events, some of which are compelling, some of which are rather dull. In the end up, it feels like a worthy subject, but if Haneke doesn’t make an effort to make the material accessible, then he can’t expect people to make the effort to study it.

I don't trust you. What do others think? I'm in the minority here. Critics have raved about it and it won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2009. It is of some consolation to me that they're all wrong.

Anything else I should know? ‘Will this be on the exam, sir?’

What does the Fonz think? Looks great, but not worth the effort.

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