Hot on the heels of its LFF screening, Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winning The White Ribbon is getting a UK theatrical release on 13th November through arthouse supremos Artificial Eye.
"A village in Protestant northern Germany. 1913-1914. On the eve of World War I. The story of the children and teenagers of a choir run by the village schoolteacher, and their families: the baron, the steward, the pastor, the doctor, the midwife, the tenant farmers. Strange accidents occur and gradually take on the character of a punishment ritual. Who is behind it all? The village schoolteacher observes, investigates and little by little discovers the incredible truth. Are we being asked to consider whether these events heralded something that would explode years later with the rise of Nazi Germany? Did these events contain the germs of the tragedies that followed?"
With echoes of Hidden and a return the themes of guilt and denial that permeate so much of the director's work, this looks like another gem. If his previous fims (and the trailer) are anything to go by, it'll almost certainly benefit from multiple viewings - and whatever your opinion on Haneke, there's no denying he's one of the most distinctive European directors working today.
You can check out the UK theatrical trailer below.
Haneke - what a truly brilliant film maker...it seems like every year he takes home the hardware at all the big festivals. I really wish more film makers would pay more attention to his work instead of Tarantino's...