Superlative casting. Incredible acting, gorgeous black and white cinematography, artful direction. In the Ingmar Bergman style. A real art movie. You are left to your own conclusions at the end, however. What seems to be beautiful and lovely on the outside turns out to have evil lurking within. Also, the director says that one of the themes is religious (in this case, Protestant) terrorism.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Imagine sitting in a crowded movie theater watching a Black & White, German-speaking sub-titled movie, with absolutely no music score in the background, very sparse dialogue .... for 2 1/2 hours .... and you could hear a pin drop the entire movie .... and no one leaves their seats! What the heck is happening to hold us all so entranced? Director Haneke has created an unusually stark film that captures the historical mood of the period within a small Germanic town that is rife with mystery, impending tragedy, quiet desperations of many kinds, an aura of male control to the point of abberation .... and, of course, the beginnings of WW I. Should be an Oscar winner.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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While not the best film I've ever seen, it was well worth watching for its continual blending of suspense and inuendoes. It depicted a brutal and hypocritical world. Some, notably the NY Times' AO Scott) have called it an allegory that chronicles the precursor to tne Nazi generation, but while there's something to be said for that I think that's a little too pat. The brutality and vengefulness that was evident in both adults and children, is with us today, only not so out in the open. It is, unfortunately, one of the hallm arks of the human condition and not unique to rural pre WW1 Germany. BTW, Haneke also directed "Cache" a French film that is also worth seeing.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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from Pacifica,California
This film is a brilliant master piece of perfect research to make sure every costume,building,etc is correct; superb acting,cinematography, and writing. I felt as if I had climbed into a time machine and gone back to Germany 1910-1914. The Austrian cinema is really showing its masterful capabilities. This is a great film for anyone and even shows you the environment that spawned Hitler and other Nazis.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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from Washington, DC
This movie is about how the Nazism could evolve in Germany, a country famous for its good-old virtues. The village is the image of pre-WWI Germany. A new generation is rising - children of "normal" Germans, rebelling against the old order. Not everybody is a villain, or even a rebel, but the main rebels are villains, and they are the leaders, with the rest either actively helping, or quietly supporting or disapproving. They are too young to discharge their rage in WWI, so, when the Germany and its old order crumbles post-WWI, they are "ready for action." That's why it is irrelevant who did what. The plot is not unfinished. The plot ends, as it should, when the culprit (i.e., the new Germans) and its motives become known.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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It was so slow it was painful. I usually like to see long scenes and dialogue but way too much time went by without advancing the plot. Not recommended
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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from Los Angeles, Ca
Left the theater wondering who did it _ needed a discussion group which I immediately joined in the restroom. I really found the movie intoxicating, loved the narration almost hated but was fasinated with the Village people. Felt that it wasn't just the evil children, it was an adult, an accident and some children. Loved it.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Like many have already commented, beautifically shot on B&W. The acting was for the most part stellar. Editing was also great.
But, I don't think the film did a good job (IMO) of motivating *why* all those bad things were happening.
[Possible spoiler alert] .
The movie intimated that children were for the most part responsible. But I couldn't tell why who was doing what. Maybe something lost in the translation? ( I know a little German - the subtitles were not always faithful to what I was hearing).
I left the theatre "disturbed" - not just because the material was disturbing (which it is), but because I felt like too much was left unsaid.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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