Actually a very courageous film that I enjoyed quite a lot. Very convincing actors, good set design and the director actually takes on the dangerous risk of toying with Nazi Aestheticism to capture the audience, which makes viewers feel uncomfortable, since even though they are enthralled by its impression, they know somehow it's wrong. This way, Gansel turns the viewer into an ally and tries to make him understand, why so many people were impressed by this era and how and why the boys were lured and brainwashed.
However, this is where the problems start. Even though I really like this film, there are two things that really spoil it a little for me. One of them is a problem of storytelling, the other is a problem of morals, which makes it even more dangerous for me.
The first issue is not that much of a problem, actually. I just feel that the solution to Albrecht's dilemma comes too quick. From the moment he speaks out to the tragic ending only about 15 minutes pass and even though the scene at the frozen lake is impressive, I think that this is quite a cop-out (not Albrecht's decision, but the screenwriter's decision) and I always felt Gansel could have made it a lot more powerful and emotional.
Now for my second issue with this movie. I believe that characters such as the one portrayed by the always reliable Devid Striesow are very convincing and real in being friendly and supposedly well-meaning but at the same time dangerous and not trustworthy. But why are all of the students innocent? None of the roommates of the two main characters is in any way a Nazi. They all go through this school, some of them have been there since their early childhood, yet all they struggle with are the problems kids at any boarding school have to face. If you think that they have been there for so many years, why does none of them show any sign of having adopted the Nazi philosophy? None of them speaks out against Albrecht, none of them supports the ideology, they all just go along like victims. Sure, they were victims of the system, but does not this omission just make this movie uneven, contradictory to itself and even dangerous in a moral view?
If this school has been designed to educate kids to become followers and members of the SS and they do not become infiltrated by the ideology (as in reality they were) why would this school be wrong? I think the director hast made a giant mistake here.
OK, there are some kids that are portrayed as Nazis, but they were all just the kids in the last grade who in the end go to fight the war. So, it must be assumed, that for a long time you are just a kid and don't get anything these teachers tell you and then from one day to the other, when you are old enough you just magically transform into a Nazi follower? I think this suggestion is completely misleading.
I love this movie on many parts (that's why I gave it 8 stars) and I think it was a very brave project. But in the end, because the director is not brave enough to show the whole picture, it ultimately unfortunately fails and not very much more remains but a feeling of having just watched a German remake of "Dead Poets Society".
However, this is where the problems start. Even though I really like this film, there are two things that really spoil it a little for me. One of them is a problem of storytelling, the other is a problem of morals, which makes it even more dangerous for me.
The first issue is not that much of a problem, actually. I just feel that the solution to Albrecht's dilemma comes too quick. From the moment he speaks out to the tragic ending only about 15 minutes pass and even though the scene at the frozen lake is impressive, I think that this is quite a cop-out (not Albrecht's decision, but the screenwriter's decision) and I always felt Gansel could have made it a lot more powerful and emotional.
Now for my second issue with this movie. I believe that characters such as the one portrayed by the always reliable Devid Striesow are very convincing and real in being friendly and supposedly well-meaning but at the same time dangerous and not trustworthy. But why are all of the students innocent? None of the roommates of the two main characters is in any way a Nazi. They all go through this school, some of them have been there since their early childhood, yet all they struggle with are the problems kids at any boarding school have to face. If you think that they have been there for so many years, why does none of them show any sign of having adopted the Nazi philosophy? None of them speaks out against Albrecht, none of them supports the ideology, they all just go along like victims. Sure, they were victims of the system, but does not this omission just make this movie uneven, contradictory to itself and even dangerous in a moral view?
If this school has been designed to educate kids to become followers and members of the SS and they do not become infiltrated by the ideology (as in reality they were) why would this school be wrong? I think the director hast made a giant mistake here.
OK, there are some kids that are portrayed as Nazis, but they were all just the kids in the last grade who in the end go to fight the war. So, it must be assumed, that for a long time you are just a kid and don't get anything these teachers tell you and then from one day to the other, when you are old enough you just magically transform into a Nazi follower? I think this suggestion is completely misleading.
I love this movie on many parts (that's why I gave it 8 stars) and I think it was a very brave project. But in the end, because the director is not brave enough to show the whole picture, it ultimately unfortunately fails and not very much more remains but a feeling of having just watched a German remake of "Dead Poets Society".