The Wave (2008)
“Die Welle”.
Drama, Thriller |
The Wave is a German socio-political thriller film directed by Dennis Gansel and starring Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Jennifer Ulrich and Max Riemelt in the leads. It is based on Ron Jones’ social experiment The Third Wave and Todd Strasser’s novel, The Wave. The film was produced by Christian Becker for Rat Pack Filmproduktion. It was successful in German cinemas, and after ten weeks, 2.3 million people had watched it.
A school teacher of history, Rainer Wenger, is forced to teach a class on autocracy, despite being an anarchist. When his students, third generation after the Second World War, do not believe that a dictatorship could be established in modern Germany, he starts an experiment to demonstrate how easily the masses can be manipulated. He begins by demanding that all students address him as “Herr Wenger”, as opposed to Rainer, and places students with poor grades beside students with good grades—purportedly so they can learn from one another and become better as a whole. When speaking, they must stand and give short, direct answers.
Wenger shows his students the effect of marching together in the same rhythm, motivating them by suggesting that they could really annoy the anarchy class, which is below them. Wenger suggests a uniform, to remove class distinction and further unite the group. Mona argues it will remove individuality, as well. Karo shows up to class without the uniform and is ostracized. The students decide among themselves they need a name, deciding on The Wave. Karo suggests another name, which ends up with one single vote cast by herself.
Director: Dennis Gansel
Writers: Ron Jones (short story and original protocols), Johnny Dawkins (screenplay “The Wave”), Ron Birnbach (screenplay “The Wave”), Dennis Gansel (writer), Peter Thorwarth (writer)
Stars: Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt, Jennifer Ulrich, Christiane Paul, Jacob Matschenz, Cristina do Rego
►Cast:
| Jürgen Vogel | … | Rainer Wenger |
| Frederick Lau | … | Tim Stoltefuss |
| Max Riemelt | … | Marco |
| Jennifer Ulrich | … | Karo |
| Christiane Paul | … | Anke Wenger |
| Jacob Matschenz | … | Dennis |
| Cristina do Rego | … | Lisa |
| Elyas M’Barek | … | Sinan |
| Maximilian Vollmar | … | Bomber |
| Max Mauff | … | Kevin (as Maximilian Mauff) |
| Ferdinand Schmidt-Modrow | … | Ferdi |
| Tim Oliver Schultz | … | Jens |
| Amelie Kiefer | … | Mona |
| Fabian Preger | … | Kaschi |
| Odine Johne | … | Maja |
| Tino Mewes | … | Schädel |
| Karoline Teska | … | Miri |
| Marco Bretscher-Coschignano | … | Dominik |
| Lennard Bertzbach | … | Bommel |
| Thommy Schwimmer | … | Maxwell (as Tommy Schwimmer) |
| Joseph M’Barek | … | Thorben |
| Jaime Ferkic | … | Bobby (as Jaime Kristo Ferkic) |
| Darvin Schmidt | … | Leon |
| Leander Hagen | … | Zecke |
| Lucas Hardt | … | Kulle |
| Max Richter | … | Faust (as Maxwell Richter) |
| Sophie Kurzke | … | Freundin Jens |
| Liv Lisa Fries | … | Laura |
| Lena Lutz | … | Leyla |
| Hendrik Holler | … | Marktverkäufer |
| Ilo Gansel | … | Marktverkäuferin |
| Natascha Paulick | … | Verkäuferin |
| Maren Kroymann | … | Dr. Kohlhage |
| Teresa Harder | … | Mutter Karo |
| Thomas Sarbacher | … | Vater Karo |
| Hubert Mulzer | … | Dieter Wieland |
| Alexander Held | … | Vater Tim |
| Johanna Gastdorf | … | Mutter Tim |
| Friederike Wagner | … | Mutter Marco |
| Dennis Gansel | … | Hängengebliebener |
| Ron Jones | … | Coffee Bar Visitor |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia