The White Ribbon

Name: The White Ribbon
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Crime
Released: December 30, 2009
Duration: 144 min
Rating: 82
Cast: Christian Friedel, Ernst Jacobi, Leonie Benesch

2009

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 126 Ratings

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8.0

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8.0	Your Score
8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 126 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: December 30, 2009 | R

Starring: Christian Friedel, Ernst Jacobi, Leonie Benesch

Summary: A village in Protestant northern Germany. 1913-1914. On the eve of World War I. The story of the children and teenagers of a choir run by the village schoolteacher, and their families: the baron, the steward, the pastor, the doctor, the midwife, the tenant farmers. Strange accidents occur and gradually take on the character of a punishmentA village in Protestant northern Germany. 1913-1914. On the eve of World War I. The story of the children and teenagers of a choir run by the village schoolteacher, and their families: the baron, the steward, the pastor, the doctor, the midwife, the tenant farmers. Strange accidents occur and gradually take on the character of a punishment ritual. Who is behind it all? The village schoolteacher observes, investigates and little by little discovers the incredible truth. Are we being asked to consider whether these events heralded something that would explode years later with the rise of Nazi Germany? Did these events contain the germs of the tragedies that followed? (Sony Classics)… Expand

Director: Michael Haneke

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 144 min

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Awards & Rankings

31	#31 Best Movie of 2009

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Keith Phipps

Haneke’s latest is essentially an inquiry into the roots of a certain kind of evil. Read full review

100

Calvin Wilson

A stark, contemplative and hauntingly brilliant film. Read full review

100

Andrew O'Hehir

Shot in spectacular black-and-white by cinematographer Christian Berger, and marvelously acted by a first-rate German ensemble, The White Ribbon captures a mood of thickening tension and mounting violence. Read full review

Kyle Smith

The White Ribbon is one of the finest films that ever repelled me, a holiday in the abyss. Read full review

Damon Wise

A hard film to love, but a hypnotic meditation on all the elements -- gossip, religion, bullying -- that can turn a parish and country bad. Read full review

Mike Scott

The film is chilled by characters that never really come alive or generate any deep sympathy. Read full review

David Edelstein

Chill to the core, Haneke presents human cruelty not to make us empathize with the victims or understand the oppressors but to rub our noses in the crimes of our species. He thinks he’s held on to the subversive ideals of punk, but all I smell is skunk. Read full review

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User Reviews

MattBrady99

Mar 14, 2017

I'm dumbfounded.

Seriously, this took a long time to fully appreciate. Not like a day or so, but almost two weeks. I guess I got so wrapped up in it's mystery that I couldn't get a word out. A film that explores depression, cruelty, and life's biggest mysteries. What we see is a mixture ofI'm dumbfounded.

Seriously, this took a long time to fully appreciate. Not like a day or so, but almost two weeks. I guess I got so wrapped up in it's mystery that I couldn't get a word out. A film that explores depression, cruelty, and life's biggest mysteries. What we see is a mixture of the truth, lies or rumors. It ends on a cold note with nothing ever answered, and these nothing quite like it.

"The White Ribbon" is another masterpiece from the brilliant Michael Haneke. The grim atmosphere and the re-creation of the time period is it's own achievement. Haneke is the best living film making of this decade. He's one of the few filmmakers right now that creates such compelling stories and questions with no answers, but questions that many will be thinking long after it's over.

The performances from the children was both fantastic and natural. The childlike behavior and the little innocence felt real. And for someone who's a sucker for amazing cinematography, this movie has it. Every singe shot is framed so perfectly that you could easily take any shot from the film and make it as the poster.

This is one of those movies that you can find something new with repeat viewings. With such a powerful narrative that excels all my expectations.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

WhatsInnaName

Jan 1, 2011

One of the best films you will ever see. One word? Chilling. I found myself to be a different person when I left the cinema. It tells a dark tale of the human life and I could not shake the feeling that what is depicted in the film is less a fairy tale and more a picture of a reality thatOne of the best films you will ever see. One word? Chilling. I found myself to be a different person when I left the cinema. It tells a dark tale of the human life and I could not shake the feeling that what is depicted in the film is less a fairy tale and more a picture of a reality that seems overcome, but is it really and truly?… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ryancarroll88

Aug 26, 2010

The movie is nothing more than a dark tale of metaphors and anti-humanism. Set in a small pre-World War I village in Germany, Haneke unravels schemes that he uses to signify the rise of fascism by the need for control - no characters are left without faults, and the more that is revealed,The movie is nothing more than a dark tale of metaphors and anti-humanism. Set in a small pre-World War I village in Germany, Haneke unravels schemes that he uses to signify the rise of fascism by the need for control - no characters are left without faults, and the more that is revealed, the more we realize that the village will inevitably spiral into chaos. The plot itself is provoking, but the movie would be nothing without Haneke's methodical direction, weaving bleakness with uncertainty and paranoia in a way that is sure to gnaw at your soul.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

SmoothJacobs

Jan 29, 2010

Stunning film from relentless provocateur Michael Haneke. The premise is scintillating, and it's slow-burn method of denying the audience any explicit truth is remarkable. One of the best films I've seen in a while.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MyOpinionOnThis

Apr 16, 2019

An amazing movie that is very insightful yet also disturbing when you think about it.
Back when I watched it the first time I though nothing of it but now almost 10 years later I have learned to really appreciate this movie after watching it again recently. The plot deals with a lot ofAn amazing movie that is very insightful yet also disturbing when you think about it.
Back when I watched it the first time I though nothing of it but now almost 10 years later I have learned to really appreciate this movie after watching it again recently. The plot deals with a lot of heavy themes and is fantastic even if there's no absolute conclusion.
The presentation is amazing in my opinion... The use of Black and White, the symbolism of various things happening in the movie and the lack of any sort of background music ties everything together amazingly.
I think this is a movie anyone should see once even if at first you don't understand it...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Andrew

Feb 15, 2010

It's unfortunate that the director appears to intend this as some sort of explanation of the roots of National Socialism. That's too facile. Instead, it's a wonderful examination of human nature and tyranny. And it's a terrific reminder of how terrible living conditions It's unfortunate that the director appears to intend this as some sort of explanation of the roots of National Socialism. That's too facile. Instead, it's a wonderful examination of human nature and tyranny. And it's a terrific reminder of how terrible living conditions were for Westerners less than a century ago. Don't ever let anyone tell you that rural life was idyllic back then. I enjoyed all 2-1/2 hours of it, though I needed to watch about four hours of "Wonderpets" videos afterward to lift my spirits. Grim, if gripping, stuff. Submit to it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Kornwestheim333

May 27, 2019

Bring a bunch of Germany- haters together...put them in a film room...this is what you get. A piece of perverse slanderous trash. This film portrays the rigid Prussian Protestant world of 1910 as a nation of incestuous child- molesting morons. This is one of the most inaccurate andBring a bunch of Germany- haters together...put them in a film room...this is what you get. A piece of perverse slanderous trash. This film portrays the rigid Prussian Protestant world of 1910 as a nation of incestuous child- molesting morons. This is one of the most inaccurate and slanderous films that I have ever seen. A real chore to sit through the whole thing....whatever it is.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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