The Wave (2008)

Not Recommended

Germany

Feature Film

Original Title: Die Welle

Director: Dennis Gansel

Writers: Dennis Gansel, Peter Thorwarth, Todd Strasser

Cinematographer: Torsten Breuer

Composer: Heiko Maile

Cast: Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt, Jennifer Ulrich, Christiane Paul, Jacob Matschenz, Cristina do Rego, Elyas M'Barek, Maximilian Vollmar

Though based on a real incident, this rather loud and flashy adaptation of Strasser’s book, in which a high school teacher attempts to illustrate how dictatorships are formed, by (not so) subtly manipulating his students – an experiment that soon begins to go horribly wrong – is never even vaguely convincing, but does just about manage to hold the attention. Iain.Stott