The Wave (15) Director Dennis Gansel Starring Jurgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemel, Jennifer Ulrich, Christiane Paul 110 mins Three star rating A Nazi version of Dead Poets Society, this German high school movie shows just how easily and quickly see

The Wave (15)

Director Dennis Gansel Starring Jurgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemel, Jennifer Ulrich, Christiane Paul

110 mins

Three star rating

A Nazi version of Dead Poets Society, this German high school movie shows just how easily and quickly seemingly reasonable people can be seduced by fascism. (Cue arched eyebrow, knowing look and the reply, "Well, if you say so," from the rest of the world.)

It is also an indictment of trendy teachers. Wenger (Vogel) rolls into school wearing a Ramones T-shirt and with Rock'n'Roll High School blaring out of his car stereo. Miffed that he doesn't get assigned the Anarchy class during Project Week, he decides to give his initially apathetic class an insight in Autocracy they'll never forget.

He introduces them to marching, discipline, uniformity and other delights of despotism and they embrace it enthusiastically - within days they have formed their own movement, Die Welle.

It's based on a true story that happened in California in 1967 and the movie does a solid job of adapting its themes to the age of gang culture and the internet. It's thought provoking though I'm not sure it provokes any thoughts you mightn't have reached by yourself.