Head to Head – The White Ribbon

No no no no no no no, don’t dangle Funny Games in the middle of your attack on The White Ribbon. Are you trying to condition me Pavlovian-style to connect my feelings for one of the worst films of all time (yes, you Funny Games) with the masterpiece that is The White Ribbon? Not gonna happen. Haneke delivered his greatest work yet with this stunningly photographed exploration of evil, revenge and the origin of terrorism. You question the motives behind the film Tom, wondering what it all means. But the question in a Michael Haneke film is never “Why?” In fact, I don’t think he offers us the opportunity to ask questions. He presents us with horror, and we are forced to process the consequences, knowing that this horror has happened, was always going to happen and will continue to happen for decades to come. I don’t think The White Ribbon lacks subtlety; it’s one of the best examinations of humanity (read: evil) in recent years. Tom, perhaps you’re just too young and wide-eyed to appreciate Haneke’s nihilism. Let me know how you feel about the film when you reach the ripe old age of 22 like myself.