Synopsis

The White Ribbon tells the story of a small protestant village in the north of Germany in 1913/1914, on the eve of World War I.

The village teacher, the young choir members, the squire, pastor, midwife, doctor and farmer. Strange accidents happen that indicate that ritual punishment is being carried out.



Who is behind it? According to Haneke, the film is about “the origin of every type of terrorism, be it of political or religious nature

Cast: Christian Friedel, Susanne Lothar, Burghart Klaußner, Ulrich Tukur, Josef Bierbichler, Ernst Jacobi, Leonie Benesch, Ursina Lardi, Fion Mutert, Detlev Buck, Rainer Bock, Steffi Kühnert, Gabriela Maria Schmeide, Leonard Proxauf

“I was interested in presenting a group of children who are taught absolutist values, and the way they internalize this absolutism. My point was to show the consequences – that is, all sorts of terrorism.”   – Michael Haneke

The White Ribbon (German: Das weiße Band) is a 2009 Austrian-German drama film written and directed by the Austrian Michael Haneke.

The screenplay focuses on the children in a village in northern Germany just before World War I.

According to Haneke, the film is about "the origin of every type of terrorism, be it of political or religious nature."

It premiered at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in May 2009 and won the Palme d'Or. This has been followed by positive reviews and several other major awards.

Cannes (In Competition): Palme d'Or, FIPRESCI Prize, Toronto (Masters), Telluride (The 'Show'), London (Gala), New York, São Paulo, Berlinale (German Cinema), San Sebastián (Zabaltegi-Pearls): FIPRESCI Film of the Year, Melbourne (International Panorama), Karlovy Vary (Open Eyes), Ghent, Vancouver (Special Presentations), Athens, BAFICI