Art awakens us to the truth.

When I first viewed White Ribbon I overlooked  one element that the film highlights,  that was “privilege”. Privilege came with blue eyes, fair skin and Christianity in the 1930 and 40(s).  It’s now 2012 and hope for ending the discrimination of people who comprise of over 80% world population has remained just a hope.  

Recently with the murder of a young black man in Florida, the people responsible for the murder, its investigation and prosecution, all claimed that they were not racist or bigots and therefore the killing of a young man on his way home could be justifiably ignored. There was no deeper consideration and that is the sad and sickening part. The young dead man was left with the burden of proof.

We all have become so comfortable with telling ourselves lies, that we let the obvious escape us.

White Ribbon” is wonderful and disturbing movie. “Like the truth.

Some movies are best filmed in Black and White. The lack of color gives the story a factual realness and solemness that suggest violence. No need to see the gore. White Ribbon is an elegant movie wonderfully directed and shot that got great reviews when it was first released.

Most of the reviews that I’ve read speak to how the director Michael Haneke may have painted a picture of the origins of Nazi Germany and World War Two. I on the other hand thought about what is it that is being preached today, disguised in bright glorious colors and apocalyptic rhetoric, that might be leading this world toward another horrific adventure. 

Related articles

• The White Ribbon (mrmovietimes.com)
• The Death of Trayvon Martin