Die Welle, The Wave [Region All, NTSC]

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The film's ending is more extreme, but plausible in today's society, according to both Jones and his students. He begins by demanding that all students address him as "Herr Wenger", as opposed to Rainer, [4] 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. The major difference, however, concerns the physical violence and the bloody end which became part of the movie. Especially the film clip in which the Wave-supporters spray their logo on buildings, is staged in the style of a music video.

Director Dennis Gansel managed to churn out a movie that was watchable and definitely had some interesting political and social aspects to it, some that definitely leaves you with something to think about. Its a film that will definitely be spoken about and re watched by many repeatedly for many years to come. Thereby he described Jones, who supported the film project as a counselor, as a "living certificate" of authenticity and that the ending was inspired by the Emsdetten school shooting.The notion of new fascism or totalitarianism is kinda scary and it was a bit uncomfortable to see how people react when they are in a mob or a group. Neatly structured by days, the experiment begins with simple disciplines and grows to become an exclusive cult named "the wave" with its own uniform and salute.

Rainer Wegner (Jurgen Vogel) is a high school teacher who is less than enthusiastic when he finds himself relegated to teaching the concept of autocracy as part of the school's project week. Vogel gives a powerful performance as an idealistic teacher who isn't aware of the influence he has on others. The movie itself is shaped like a proverbial wave, starts gently and slowly gathers momentum and before you know it it turns into a powerhouse. He projected footage of Hitler and the Nazi rallies on the wall to emphasise how easily the students had been misled into behaving like fascists.

Over time, however, the movement of The Wave picks up speed, and things go further than anticipated.

His film, however, was made on the premise that people felt immune to the possibility of a repetition of history as a result of the intensive study of National Socialism and its mechanisms.He chose Jürgen Vogel as the leading actor because he wanted someone he himself would have liked to have as a teacher, for Vogel brought with him real life experience and a certain kind of authority. One of the students, Tim, cannot bear the thought that The Wave, to which he has become totally committed emotionally, is a mere illusion, and commits suicide after shooting and wounding another student. Gansel justifies the drastic end with the necessity of shocking the audience after the length of the film, of providing a counter-statement and of taking up a stance. Immer, wenn ich jemanden höre, der behauptet, es gäbe nicht einen einzigen guten Film aus Deutschland, muss ich schmunzeln und an Die Welle denken. When Tim and his group of new friends are confronted by a group of angry punks (including those that Tim faced previously), Tim pulls a Walther PP pistol, causing them to back down.