The White Ribbon: black and white crudity

The White Ribbon is considered the favorite for the Oscar for best foreign language film, after winning the Golden Globe in this category, as well as the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes.

Although Haneke expect anything, I decided to see it. In case you do not want to continue reading, in my opinion, is an overrated movie.

To say that about the author had read about the first "Funny Games" and I heard of "The Pianist". In the end, to have evidence, I went to see the remake of Funny Games did and I found it appalling sadism, although I recognize the merit of making a film of extreme violence, explicit scenes with virtually, but how can mistreat the poor and Naomi Watts?

The Black Belt entirely shot in black and white has attracted all kinds of praise from "The brainy critics," which has fallen exhausted at the foot of this work, rewarding it with many stars. Apparently, as I read, is a great reflection of rural Germany in the period just before World War I, which would explain how such education could create monsters that were the future Nazis. With all due respect I think a tremendous straw mind. I think any movie is made ​​in black and white, try what I try, it takes a couple of extra stars. Guess that's why I'm an amateur, not a professional critic.

No doubt the sobriety of black and white, which helps to get that cold weather, as the character of almost all the characters in the film, so do not complain of this resource, unlike the picture is excellent. But do I complain that a movie is extremely slow, and also elongates until two hours and fifteen minutes from my point of view totally excessive, as in the end it becomes very repetitive.

The story, told as a voice-over, it is assumed that a posteriori, by the village schoolteacher, is set, as I said, about 1912, a small rural town in Germany, where we will be free of evil, both in older and children. Thus we see as causing an accident that causes injury, are abused children, including mentally handicapped, and burn the barns.

Adults, mainly those of men, nor are they an example of virtue, as we see selfishness, physical and psychological, against women and children, and constant humiliation, including, as always implicitly address issues like the author, even incest . Women keep silent and endure and the children have their own way, showing in turn the cruelty and violence. Only shows the innocence of the little ones in a couple of scenes tender, still further contrasted with the rest.

The actors are, at least for me, totally unknown. It seems that the casting has been done looking faces everyday, if not outright ugly, I suppose to enhance the gloomy film.

It's a film-and this is again the house brand of psychological tremendously where appearances are totally contrary to what actually happens: where the apparent calm and idyllic rural life, is a kind of hell in which each gives free loose the evil within. Where religion plays a key role in both education and customs.

I do not know if it is, as said, an explanation of the origins of Nazism, but of course so much evil free is hard to stop and do not leave indifferent psychological scars on the characters.

In short, it is not an easy film, of passing the time. It's a movie for movie lovers "brainy", although we know that, for taste ...

So, other than for fans of the director, only recommend it to those who want to see something different and are tired of movies sweet and easy, as this is bitter hard and complicated. Still, however unpleasant it may seem, is a good movie, but it's the best shot in languages ​​other than English last year seems excessive to me.

Score: 6 (if it were not so slow and long could be at 7 or 7.5)