THE WHITE RIBBON
aka DAS WEISSE BAND

Year: 2009
USA: Sony Pictures Classics
UK: Artificial Eye
Cast: Christian Friedel, Ernst Jacobi, Leonie Benesch, Ulrich Tukur, Ursina Lardi, Fion Mutert, Michael Kranz, Burghart Klaussner, Steffi Kuhnert, Maria-Victoria Dragus, Leonard Proxauf, Levin Henning, Johanna Busse, Yuma Amecke, Thibault Serie, Josef Bierbichler, Gabriela Maria Schmeide, Janina Fautz, Enno Trebs, Theo Trebs, Rainer Bock, Susanne Lothar, Roxane Duran, Miljan Chatelain, Eddy Grahl, Branko Samarovski, Birgit Minichmayr, Sebastian Hulk, Kai Malina, Kristina Kneppek, Stephanie Amarell, Bianca Mey, Aaron Denkel, Mika Ahrens, Detlev Buck, Anne-Kathrin Gummich
Director: Michael Haneke
Countries: Austria / Germany / France / Italy
Language: German (English subtitles)
USA & UK: 144 mins
USA Rated: R for some disturbing content involving violence and sexuality
UK Certificate: 15 contains child abuse references
USA Release Date: 30 December 2009 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 13 November 2009 (Limited Release)

Synopsis

A village in Protestant northern Germany. 1913-1914. On the eve of World War I.

The action takes place in a German village in the fifteen months that precede World War I. Among the people who live there are a baron, who is a large landowner and a local moral authority, his estate manager, a pastor with his many children, a widowed doctor and a schoolteacher who is thinking of getting married. It is he who, many years later, tells this story.

Some inexplicable events disturb the quiet life of a German village, just before World War I. A cable has been put up to trip the doctor riding his horse, a barn is set on fire, two children are abducted and tortured... These strange accidents that are occurring, gradually take on the character of a punishment ritual.

But who is behind it all?

The schoolteacher observes, investigates and little by little discovers the incredible truth.

Written and directed by Michael Haneke