DAS WEISS BAND (THE WHITE RIBBON)

Germany/Austria, 125 minutes, Black and white.
Christian Friedel, Ulrich Tukur, Burghart Klaussner.
Directed by Michael Haneke.

Ascetical is a word that springs to mind to begin describing The White Ribbon. Director Michael Haneke has imposed on himself some very strict disciplines for this film. Set in the year before the outbreak of World War I, in a village in northern Germany, it is almost two and a half hours long. Filmed in crisp black and white, it uses the classical craft of films from decades ago.

Often, in look and theme, it reminds us of the older Ingmar Bergman films: a village, children, a pastor, a landowner, intense interactions. It also looks like many a French film, or even a Fox period film from the 1940s, though not studio bound. The takes are often long, static, with many reactions shots. It is not the swiftly paced material of today's films.

Michael Haneke makes films that are sometimes impassioned but which are also cool, even detached Many audiences may well find this the case with The White Ribbon. We observe unusual and cruel things going on in the village. We look at the characters and listen to them but, apart from the young local teacher (who is narrating the story in his old age) and his fiancee, it is difficult to empathise with them.

There are mysterious accidents in the village, some cruelty towards children, which still remains a mystery by the end. This is a village of olden days funny games which may involve the rather malevolent children. The Baron is a cold man. The pastor is even colder, stern in discipline with his children (which may be a cause of their actions). The doctor has some of the cruellest insults on screen as he dismisses his mistress and his midwife for his work.

The film indicates the beginnings of World War I and leaves us with the memories of strange times, strange people, strange behaviour.

Winner of the Palme D'Or, the International Critics Prize and a commendation from the Ecumenical Jury, Cannes 2009.

1.An austere film, ascetically made, well disciplined? Black and white photography, the camerawork, pace?

2.Germany in 1913-14, the village, isolated, the detail of its way of life, the baron, the farmers, the fields, the factories, the school? The locations and the atmosphere? Musical score? Hymns, songs?

3.The narrative, the old man in his old age voicing the commentary, not entirely sure of the facts, his voice, tone? His personalising the story? Seeing him as a teacher when young, his role in the school, in the village, the enquiry, his concerns about the children and the truth?

4.The initial accident, the doctor, the wire and his fall, his daughter and her concern, the midwife, his injury, hospital, the police investigation? The women knowing nothing about the wire?

5.The elderly woman at the factory, the rotten floor, her death, her husband’s grief, the coffin, the angry son, lopping the cabbages during the fair? The baroness and her shock, the baron and his speech in the church, calling the father back into the church, the son and the condemnation? The father and his attitude towards his son, forgiving him?

6.The teacher and the children, his fishing, seeing Martin walk on the bridge, getting him down, the fish for his father, the encounter with Eva, asking her to take the fish? Their pleasant and awkward talk? His visit to Eva’s father, thinking about her, the one-year wait? Meeting with her, the picnic and her requesting not to have it? The outbreak of the war, his eventually marrying her?

7.Eva, her age, the nanny, at the fair, with the children, the baroness urging her to dance with the teacher? The suddenness of her being fired, staying at the school, the alternate work at the hairdresser’s, her comments on it?

8.The baron, his role in the village, the landowner? Employing most of the people? His love for his son? His staff in the house? The steward? His relationship with his wife? At the church, the condemnation about the cabbages? At the fair, the opening speech? His reaction to his son being injured? His wife firing the nanny, leaving the village? The stay in Italy, the new Italian nanny, her return? The clash with her husband, the explanation of her Italian suitor, going back to Italy? The baron and his being left alone?

9.The pastor, his children, his relationship with his wife? The stern household? His running the parish? His reaction to the children and their being late, the punishment, no meal, caning them? The severity of his punishment? The little boy and the bird, the gift and his permission to look after it (its being killed and the little boy offering another bird to take its place)? His sermon, his tying the white ribbon on Klara, tying up the boy in bed? The preparation for confirmation, the class, his condemning Klara and her fainting? His finally giving her Communion? The interview with the teacher, the teacher blaming the children, the stern reaction of the pastor? His not firing the teacher, his not mentioning it again?

10.The children, in a group after school, Klara as the leader? Their concern about the doctor and the visit, about the injured boys? The two boys and the taking of Sige’s whistle, putting him in the river, the other rescuing him? Martin walking on the bridge, to see whether God wanted him to die or not? The children and their resentments? Malevolence – responsible for the injuries or not?

11.The steward, his children, his home life, working for the baron, the severity with the child accused of stealing the whistle?

12.The presentation of the wives, knowing their place, their forbearance?

13.The doctor returning, his son not responding to him? Going to work, relying on the midwife, the visits? The sexual relationship with the midwife, his sudden cutting her off, the severity and malice of his insults? Her response? His leaving the town? The midwife taking the bike – knowing he was guilty, but never returning?

14.Life and work in the town, the fields, the factory? The church and the choir? The Christmas celebration and the assembly? The baroness and her music, with the tutor and his flute? The overall view of life in the village?

15.The assassination in Sarajevo, the declarations of war, the war changing everything? Life in the village as a symbol of pre-war Germany? Deeper intentions?