In Michael Haneke’s latest film, The White Ribbon, a series of mysteriously random acts of violence disturb a small and puritanical Northern German village on the eve of World War I. We never get a satisfying explanation of their origin because Haneke is more interested in how people react in the face of fear, and he uses this setting to offer a glimpse into the formative years of the generation who would grow up to form the Nazi party. For nearly two and a half hours, he demands the utmost attention from his audience, providing subtle clues hidden inside seemingly banal dialogue, long and expansively bleak shots, and acting that often appears flat. Emblematic? Sure, but it takes a toll on the… Read More