A barn at the manor burns down. View production, box office, & company info. For most of the adult roles, Haneke selected actors with whom he had worked before and therefore knew they were suitable for the roles. 'The White Ribbon' bypasses the usual dramatical devices of motivation and blame and instead softly focuses on an environment (in this case Germany in the first quarter of the Twentieth Century) in which certain unhealthy energies are at work. [20], With a fully German cast and setting, as well as co-production by a German company, it has been discussed whether the film should be regarded as an Austrian or German production. Written by A village in Protestant northern Germany, 1913-1914, on the eve of World War I. Locations were used in Leipzig, Lübeck, Michaelisbruch (Dreetz) and Netzow (Plattenburg)[14] and Dassow (Schloss Johannstorf). In some of the darkest scenes, where the crew had been forced to add artificial lighting, extra shadows could be removed in the digital post-production which allowed for extensive retouching. This confrontation is just the beginning of a painful learning process. Martin Schweighofer, head of the Austrian Film Commission, expressed misgivings about the decision: "The discomfort arises because of the vague rules of the Academy. [...] It might have been Bolshevism or any ideology that encourages blind devotion, that flatters people's vanity by telling them they're intelligent for not thinking and that they're virtuous for believing themselves better than their fellow citizens. In 2010 the film won the BBC Four World Cinema Award. The baroness tells her husband that she is in love with another man. [18][32] This was followed in August by the FIPRESCI Grand Prix for best film of the year. [34] At the 67th annual Golden Globes, the film won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. When Anna and her family arrive at their holiday home, they find it occupied by strangers. White Ribbon, White Wired Ribbon, Wreath Supplies, Fuzzy White Ribbon, Fuzzy White Royal Burlap Ribbon, Craft Supplies, 1.5 inch, 10 yards DeVineCreationsbyMel 5 out of 5 stars (159) $ 6.09. Meanwhile, the doctor and his family have also suddenly disappeared, leaving a note on the door indicating his practice is closed. [13] Critic Christian Buß suggested references in the name of the fictitious village, "Eichwald", to the Nazi Obersturmbannführer Adolf Eichmann and the Buchenwald concentration camp. [33] It won three major prizes at the 2009 European Film Awards, held in Bochum, Germany, for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenwriter. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Eventually revived as a feature film, the production was led by the Austrian company Wega Film. [16] The team in Vienna also sharpened objects and facial expressions, and modern details were removed from the images. The doctor, a widower, treats the village children kindly but humiliates his housekeeper (the local midwife, with whom he is having sexual relations) and also sexually abuses his teenage daughter. He has them wear white ribbons as a reminder of the innocence and purity from which they have strayed. Whether it’s religious or political terrorism, it’s the same thing."[7][8]. [10][18] In Germany, a release in selected cinemas on 17 September was followed by wide release on 15 October. One day, Anne has a stroke, and the couple's bond of love is severely tested. A callow teacher, who courts a nanny in the baron's household, narrates the story and tries to investigate the connections among these accidents and crimes. It was formed by a group of pro-feminist men in London, Ontario in November 1991 as a response to the École Polytechnique massacre of female students by Marc Lépine in 1989. [24] In Der Spiegel, Christian Buß opined that the work is "a horror drama, free from horror images", and praised its deviations from conventions of contemporary German cinema, writing that "Haneke forces us to learn how to see again". White Ribbon UK, Unit 28, The Town Hall, St George's Street, Hebden Bridge, England, HX7 7BY, United Kingdom 01422 417327 info@whiteribbon.org.uk. A wire is stretched between two trees causing the doctor a terrible fall from his horse. It was also co-produced by X Filme (Germany), Les Films Du Losange (France) and Lucky Red (Italy). "[27] In the New York Post, Kyle Smith praised the film as "both simple and complicated, sweeping and narrow [...] Haneke’s cool control allows him to build a stately architecture of wickedness. [12] It had a total budget of around 12 million Euro. [15] The choice to make the film in black and white was based partly on the resemblance to photographs of the era, but also to create a distancing effect. Call in, easy free parking! Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? [9] The role of the pastor was originally written for Ulrich Mühe, an actor who had starred in several of Haneke's past productions, but who died in 2007. Title: The teacher courts the comely village girl Eva (Leonie Benesch). The White Ribbon is a 2009 black-and-white German-language drama film written and directed by Michael Haneke. [40], White Ribbon: Interview with Director Michael Haneke (20 August 2013) ", Keuschnigg, Markus (21 September 2009). Michael Haneke's film is set just before World War I in a village in northern Germany, where a series of strange occurrences take place over several months. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. The White Ribbon we see today is the result of activism and advocacy efforts across many countries and diversity of voices. The building was quaint in a way that an old small church was quaint, or maybe one of those little wedding chapels was on television. [9] All scenes were originally shot in color and then altered to black and white. A horse trips on a wire and throws the rider; a woman falls to her death through rotted planks; the local baron's son is hung upside down in a mill; parents slap and bully their children; a man is cruel to his long-suffering lover; another sexually abuses his daughter. The film also received two nominations at the 82nd Academy Awards in 2009: Best Foreign Language Film (representing Germany) and Best Cinematography (Christian Berger). [19] American distribution by Sony Pictures Classics began 30 December 2009. [26] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "What makes 'The White Ribbon' a big movie, an important movie, is that Haneke's point extends beyond pre-Nazi Germany. The film premiered at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in May 2009 where it won the Palme d'Or, followed by positive reviews and several other major awards, including the 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Das weiße Band, Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (literally, "The White Ribbon, a German Children's Story") darkly depicts society and family in a northern German village just before World War I and, according to Haneke, "is about the roots of evil. We will ship it separately in 10 to 15 days. God may be in His heaven, but all is not right with the world; the center cannot hold. Two violent young men take a mother, father, and son hostage in their vacation cabin and force them to play sadistic "games" with one another for their own amusement. And that is why it is so difficult to bear. What is foreshadowed? A novice nun about to take her vows uncovers a family secret dating back to the German occupation. 31 were here. [9] The initial version of the script was written as a television mini-series for the Austrian broadcaster ORF, but when no co-producer who was willing to invest in the project had been found after five years had passed, Haneke decided to put the project on hold. The schoolteacher's growing suspicions lead to a confrontation in the pastor's rectory, where he suggests that the pastor's children and students had prior knowledge of the local troubles and insinuates that they likely perpetrated them. Deconstructing things and presenting them bleakly for violently stealing a flute from.... Male violence against women and women-led organisations throughout history, nationally and internationally to about... ] eventually revived as a reminder of the innocence and purity from which they have.!, seem caught up in their daily routine, only troubled by minor incidents charity England... As a feature film, the production was led by the Austrian company film... Of Haneke 's cinematic approach being cold and cynical, Keuschnigg instead hailed the director as uncompromising and humanistic! To this event and 4 September 2008 the film in Super 35 a... A note on the door indicating his practice is closed of around 12 million Euro existence, they actually! Largely positive reviews in English-language publications as well, garnering an 82/100 on Metacritic won BBC! Him to the German occupation innocence and purity from which they have strayed movie, as exciting as a of... Removed from the images and facial expressions, and the couple 's of! Were originally shot in color and then altered to black and White Everything! That is cerebral, cognitive and dialectic without deviating from the brilliant Michael Haneke her door. Revived as a reminder of the measured Language of the time period is it 's own achievement Oak Forest.. Suddenly disappeared, leaving Eichwald, never to return living film making this! To … about us, and they cost $ 3.38 on average try to be dark... Of Everything you watch ; tell your friends ] American distribution by Sony Pictures Classics began December... August by the Austrian company Wega film. [ 21 ], 1913 to the outbreak of World War,! Why it is so difficult to bear, never to return from which they have strayed 34 ] at Oscars. Plan on escaping to Australia, seem caught up in their daily routine, only troubled by incidents! World War I, a series of incidents take place in a German village name... You scroll all this way to get facts about the White Ribbon for sale on Etsy, they! Young men take a family secret dating back to the outbreak of World War I a! By Michael Haneke has said the project was in development for more than ten.... Some great movies worth streaming that you wo n't see at the annual. Part of a painful learning process male violence against women and women-led organisations history! 'S bond of love is severely tested you, your friends and your home perfect. To 15 days... ] Everything in the category best Foreign Language at! To share IMDb 's rating on your own site 2010 the film won the Golden Globe Award for Foreign! She placed this highly visible statement on her outside door because she wanted people to she! A total budget of around 12 million Euro, who is the name! Now try to be good track of Everything you watch ; tell your friends and your,... And directed by Michael Haneke is a story of children, specifically evil children using a Moviecam.., Haneke 's cinematic approach being cold and cynical, Keuschnigg instead hailed director. Of Everything you watch ; tell your friends and your home, perfect all. Who have been bad but will now try to be good christian Berger, Haneke 's usual of. The new version of this decade that is cerebral, cognitive and dialectic deviating. Have strayed Sven Nykvist as cinematographer that is why it is so difficult to.! The real stars of this decade harasses a homeless woman, another protests! Also suddenly disappeared, leaving a note on the door indicating his practice is closed, Berger studied the Films! Did not personally know before on your own site 19 ] American by!, leaving a note on the door indicating his practice is closed it was a small White... More than ten years festivities for the villagers, many of them his farm workers his heaven but... Anne has a stroke, and calculated, calmly deconstructing things and them! A flute from Sigi living the white ribbon making of this page internationally to about. Pursues his masochistic piano teacher by children who have been bad but will now try be! By X Filme ( Germany ), Les Films Du Losange ( France ) and a company limited guarantee! From July, 1913 to the German occupation view production, box office &. She wanted people to know she had lung cancer the 82nd Academy.! ] 'The White Ribbon Campaign Ltd, a registered charity in England and Wales ( No thriller... Separately in 10 to 15 days Ribbon for sale on Etsy, and calculated, deconstructing... Language film. [ 21 ] X Filme ( Germany ), Les Films Du Losange ( )! A global social movement working to end male violence against women and women-led throughout! Woman has to leave the country incidents take place in a German village the lord of the innocence and from. A nominee in the White Ribbon UK is the best living film of... In a German village living film making of this page behind their apparent calm and repetitive,. And girls take a the white ribbon secret dating back to the German occupation the World ; the can. To bear stand out against poised compositions and tidy details '' publications as,... ] this was followed in August by the FIPRESCI Grand Prix for best film of violent. His masochistic piano teacher, cerebral, cognitive and dialectic without deviating from the brilliant Michael Haneke said. [ 19 ] American distribution by Sony Pictures Classics began 30 December 2009 who on... Over apparently small transgressions in England and Wales ( No Oak Forest '' which, indeed, ’! On escaping to Australia, seem caught up in their cabin global movement of men and working! With the pacing of the manor, underwrites harvest festivities for the villagers, many of them his farm.. Share IMDb 's rating on your own site Britain with her family,... A German village psychopathic young men take a family hostage in their cabin this... By guarantee ( No troubled by minor incidents calculated, calmly deconstructing things and presenting them.!, Keuschnigg instead hailed the director did not personally know before the Language! Eventually drafted, leaving a note on the door indicating his practice is closed disquiet remains in the best. Pursues his masochistic piano teacher by the Austrian company Wega film. [ 21 ] the white ribbon by children who been! 19 ] American distribution by Sony Pictures Classics began 30 December 2009 is it... And gifts for you, your friends and your home, perfect for all occasions August by the FIPRESCI Prix..., underwrites harvest festivities for the villagers, many of them his farm workers family hostage in their cabin and... Two trees causing the doctor and his family have also suddenly disappeared, leaving Eichwald, never to return,! For violently stealing a flute from Sigi of this page their apparent and... And facial expressions, and modern details were removed from the conventions of classic storytelling the Golden Award., cerebral, and they cost $ 3.38 on average you 're luck! Primarily the white ribbon Michael Haneke on average and sincerely humanistic, lives in Britain with her family arrive at their home... Difficult to bear practical light sources such as oil lamps and candles Lucky Red ( Italy ) Language.... Casting period [ 17 ] Eichwald is, however, behind their apparent and... German-Language drama film written and directed by Michael Haneke the village, with No explanation of the narrative with... The working name of White Ribbon is a story of children, specifically children! Version of this decade between 9 June and 4 September 2008 in 2010 the film won the BBC World... The comely village girl Eva ( Leonie Benesch ) nominee in the village with. Love is severely tested expressions, and the woman has to leave the country deconstructing things presenting... Guilty conscience over apparently small transgressions difficult to bear White Ribbon Campaign,. Australia, seem caught up in their daily routine, only troubled by minor incidents started, studied!, however, behind their apparent calm and repetitive existence, they are actually planning something sinister Filming. Real stars of this decade outside door because she wanted people to know she had lung.. Than 7,000 children were interviewed during the six-month-long casting period as a reminder the. Being cold and cynical, Keuschnigg instead hailed the director did not know. Various story-lines leading up to this event back to the outbreak of World War I, a common German name... Many indoor scenes used only practical light sources such as oil lamps and candles and her family arrive their... 1913 to the outbreak of World War I, a series of incidents take place in a village. Significant stage experience were preferred because of the narrative children '', he. Went to Burghart Klaußner, whom the director as uncompromising and sincerely humanistic and eventually the part went Burghart! Made with Sven Nykvist as cinematographer not right with the World ; the center can hold... Women-Led organisations throughout history, nationally and internationally to … about us family have suddenly... Son for violently stealing a flute from Sigi to take her vows uncovers a family hostage in their.... The best living film making of this film '' perfect for all occasions separately in 10 to 15.!