Assignment Die Welle 2020 PDF

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PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT GRADE 10

Die$Welle$ An analysis about a totalitarian ideology Hendrik Rozendal

Filmanalysis ‘Die Welle’ Introduction

“Yes we know, the nazis were stupid! A dictatorship like that could never happen again. We are smarter than that!!!!” This idea of a student on a German high school, inspires the popular teacher Rainer Wenger to a highly unorthodox experiment. What starts as an innocent project, stimulated by peerpressure and discipline, the project turns into terrifying proportions.. Instead of resisting, the students allow themselves to be swept away on a wave of enthusiasm. They form a movement; Die Welle. Wenger seems to enjoy his part as the ‘Führer of the movement more and more. In short: The film is set in a high school in Germany, where students are convinced that the Third Reich can never happen again. But is that true? Is it really unthinkable that people line up in a movement to support a Hitler type character? Or are we much smarter nowadays? What is your opinion? Would you have followed a leader blindly as many Germans did in the 1930’s? Would you have been swept away by the wave?

Assignment There are two learning goals: 1. You know how a totalitarian system works. You can show that different totalitarian systems have the same characteristics. 2.

You are aware of the force of psychological and peer pressure and its consequences.

———-—-——- fiel Erfolg!————-—-

Summarising: 1

Characteristics of totalitarian ideologies.

A strong leader with all power

Every member of the group, state or party has to obey the leader. There is no democratic way to hold the leader responsible. A leader who accepts no other opinion is called a dictator. This type of government is a dictatorship. A well known slogan in Germany was 'Befehl ist Befehl’ (always obey).! 2

Individuals are not important

The own people, party or nation is more important than any individual. Every member of the group must understand that he or she is only important to serve the group. In Nazi-Duitsland the slogan was: 'Du bist nichts, dein Volk ist alles’ (you are nothing, your people are everything).! 3

People are not equal

Inequality exists inside and outside the fascist group. Towards people outside the group there is often (a) racism, towards people inside the group there is often (b) sexism. a The own race is considered best. People of other races are inferior. Mingling is not allowed. b Women are considered lower than men. Women have less rights and are supposed to be obedient to men.! 4

Violence against other ideas

Fascists allow no criticism. Totalitarian leaders do not enter discussion, but use violence to impose their will. Critical people (writers, artists, intellectuals) are threatened, imprisoned, killed or locked up in concentration camps, such as Dachau (near München)! 5

Appearance

Totalitarian movements prefer to show themselves in uniform, flags and symbols, reflecting their collective identity (such as the swastika in Germany) and to impress both insiders and outsiders.!

6 Finding a scapegoat For every failure in society, a scapegoat is found. Jews were the nazi scapegoats. Everything that was wrong in Germany the nazis blamed on the Jews."

Filmvragen ‘Die Welle’. 1

Which of the traits of fascism have you seen in Die Welle?

Describe in which setting in the film you have seen this.

2

Which totalitarian characteristics focus on the ‘own group’?

3

Name 2 positive influences on the class after starting the experiment.

5

Which social changes occurred after the experiment had started?

6

At which specific moment did Die Welle become truly totalitarian?

7 The film ends dramatic for one student in particular. Give two reasons why the student possibly made this choice.

8

Why was membership of Die Welle an attractive option for many students?

9

Why was Die Welle especially attractive for Tim?

10

What criticism did Karo have on Die Welle? What were the consequences for her?

11

When did the movement start to become really dangerous?

12 At which specific moment did teacher Rainer go too far? When do you think he should have stopped? 16 Director Dennis Gansel has always been interested in the war history of his fatherland: “My grandfather was an officer during the Third Reich. My father and uncles were really troubled by that. But as a young man, I often doubted if I would have behaved differently in the same circumstances.” People appear to be ready cross the edge of their conscience when ordered by a person of authority. This is shown blatantly in the final scene of the film. Wenger orders: “Bring die Verräter nach vorne!” Marco is roughly treated and brought forward. When Wenger asks Bomber why he complied, Bomber bluntly answers: “Because you told me to.” This strongly reminds of “Befehl ist Befehl.” The director clearly questions his own conscience. After viewing the film, would you recommend others to watch it? Explain your answer"

Characters ‘Die Welle’

RAINER WENGER — TEACHER

Rainer Wenger is the prototype of a young, easygoing teacher. He is liked by his students. They address him by his first name. His colleagues like him less, but he doesn’t care. With his tattoos and punk T-shirts, he appears as a wild rocker. “I lived 5 years as a squatter in Kreuzberg. I was first in line at the May 1st demonstrations. Nobody knows more about anarchy than I.” At the start of his experiment, he plays his part convincingly. So convincingly, it starts to become unclear what drives him: is it the life lesson for his students or his sudden rise to authority?

MARCO — THE FOLLOWER

Marco lives the easy life. He is a star in the waterpolo team and his a popular sweetheart. He does come from a broken family and finds in Die Welle the sense of community he lacks at home. He gets swept away in the rush of peer-pressure and even risks his relationship with Karo. Marco is being held responsible for the behaviour of his girlfriend. After hitting her, he realises his mistake. Die Welle turned him into something he doesn’t want to be. This gives him the confidence to go against the mass. From a follower, he turns into a rebel.

TIM — THE FANATIC

Tim always was a loner – ignored by his dad and class mates – who fights for acknowledgement. Everything goes ( lies , drugs...) to get into the favour of his classmates. But the harder he tries, the more he is excluded. Tim is the first to respond to Die Welle. He is consumed by it and desperate make it work.This is his great chance to become accepted He burns his brand clothing (and also his identity), accepts Wengers authority and evolves into his right hand. The final showdown comes as a total disaster for him. Everything goes up in smoke. “Die Welle was my life”. Tim escapes in violence.

KARO — THE WAVE BREAKER

Karo is a smart girl with high self-awareness. She feels the special energy of Die Welle and is the first one to object. At first reluctant, later confident. For the first time she experiences how it is to be an outsider. When she fails to wear the uniform, she is cast out. She tries to convince Marco. When this doesn’t work, she distances herself from him. Despite threats, she keeps up her resistance.

SINAN — THE OPPORTUNIST

For Sinan, Die Welle is a chance he takes with both hands. His conforming allows his status to grow (he gets to design the logo). The outsider always branded as ‘the Turk’, suddenly finds himself in an important position. Sinan protects others and behaves himself exactly as the movement prescribes. He is not a high flyer at school and feels a certain threat. If he fails, he doesn’t have a rich family to fall back on. He states that Dei Welle helps him in erasing race and class differences. His sporting performance is marred when he completely goes ballistic during a polo game.

KEVIN — THE RIOTER

When Kevin walks out of class, the first rupture in the movement occurs. Later, he regrets his decision. He is a pure opportunist, who also wants a piece of the pie. His goal does not go further than being annoying and picking fights. He enjoys making others miserable. Kevin, son of a rich businessman, shares his wealth (videogames, luxury car) with his friends.

DENNIS — THE BENIFICIARY

As director of the theatre group, Dennis has a hard time to bring his message across. Fascinated with the new ideas about discipline, he finds the courage to take matters into his own hands. With success. Even after the end of the Welle project he states the benefits of the movement: ‘not everything we did was bad’.

LISA —THE INTRIGUER

The movement provides Lisa with the opportunity to step out of the shadow of her friend Karo. She sees Die Welle as a chance to drive a wedge between Karo and Marco, who she desires. At the end she remains disappointed and alone.

JENS — THE BORED

As a rich kid, Jens never had the ambition to make many friends in class. But thanks to Die Welle, he finds himself in the middle of it. He uses his privileges as an entry ticket in the movement. He seems to engage himself voluntarily and says boredom as his greatest drive to join Die Welle. His father supports his new found ambition.

FERDI — THE CLOWN Ferdi will do anything to become the centre of attention: in the theatre, the club (where he performs a vulgar sex act) and the classroom. He is a clown, but does not use his position to criticise the events.

BOMBER — THE INDIFFERENT Totally indifferent, Bomber sits in the back row of the classroom. There are few things that impress him. Thanks to die Welle, he learns how to apply himself for a greater cause, as he writes in his report. At the end he becomes, by courtesy of Tim, one of the greatest victims of the movement.

ANKE WENGER — THE SENSIBLE

Anke is Wengers partner, also a progressive teacher, but more down to earth than her husband. They seem to have a loving relationship and she is pregnant of her first baby. She realises the danger of her husbands experiment. She tries to reason with him. Her annoyance grows and hard words are spoken. After failing to convince him, they drift apart. At the end of the film they are completely estranged....