The White Ribbon

Disturbing, alarming, unnerving, and yet slightly unsatisfying.

A dark portrait of life in a small village in Germany just prior to the start of WWI, Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon is up for two Oscars (best foreign language and cinematography). The film explores some disturbing events that take place in this village, some answered, some left to the imagination, all of which may help explain, or not, events that later occur in Germany.

Stark, black and white, and with minimal score (no music except diegetic hymns and piano playing), the film was completely riveting.

Highly recommended.