Underwhelming

Rating: 8/10 (2 July 2010)

White Ribbon is by no means a bad film. I think it is very well made, well acted, and shot but in the end I just didn't see the overwhelming arch. The reviews and press for the film coming from director Michael Haneke suggest that the film tries to dissect the origins of the fascist mentality that drove Hitler to power in Germany. Without knowing that walking in from prior reading I would have had no idea that was what Haneke's intent was. It's an ensemble picture with different stories and different dilemmas coming from the citizens of a German village circa early 1910's. If I had to maybe come up with a central theme unifying the picture it would be a critique of the parental role. I don't think you can directly link that to the stated intent. In retrospect it makes sense. Modern Germany having to suffer the sins of their fore bearers, but this really isn't a story about the origins of fascism but rather a cultural fighting back. If this truly was what Haneke wanted to enstow as the message of his film he set it in the wrong time period. It simply was a different mindset post-WW1. He seems to want to project that the roots of fascism come from overbearing Christiandom, but is this a uniquely German phenomenon? No. So I don't agree with Haneke's observations, but I don't think this hurts my appreciation for his film.
That being said the film works and works well as a drama. There are fine performances in a very strong ensemble cast. I like that Haneke centers the film around a school teacher played by Christian Friedel. Friedel's performance is the strongest of the picture. For one he relays an optimism not crushed. There is something foreign about Friedel as if he doesn't belong in this village. He looks Jewish and I think there had to have been some intent in this perception. And audiences will come to whatever conclusion...
The thing I love about the film though is the strong camera work. Haneke can stage a scene and he can do so well. In some ways the film reminds me of a Kubrick film. The framing of each scene is done with utmost care as if to create miniature paintings of the stills. There are some powerful moments which showcase this "mis en scene". The image of the burning barn, or the scenes where the boy approaches his father the pastor, who is on an impossibly higher level than he, are very powerful.
All in all I recommend the film. It is intelligent and technically very strong. I think you'll find enjoyment out of it if you don't walk in with preconceptions.