Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 41 (click to see context) from:
%%* HeroicBSOD: Wenger, after [[spoiler:the shooting.]]
to:
* HeroicBSOD: Wenger, after [[spoiler:the
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
That's pretty debatable given what Wenger is like when he gets crossed
Changed line(s) 65 (click to see context) from:
* UglyGuyHotWife: Rainer is not pretty and his wife is a HotTeacher. But Rainer is so charming and charismatic it is easy to get why she likes him.
to:
* UglyGuyHotWife: Rainer is not pretty and his wife is a HotTeacher. But Rainer is so charming and charismatic it is easy to get why she likes him.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
%%* BelligerentSexualTension: Between [[spoiler: Lisa and Marco]].
to:
Changed line(s) 27 (click to see context) from:
* BombThrowingAnarchists: Subverted. The anarchist gang lead by Faust are not violent until they are provoked by the Wave-members putting up their symbol all over town. It becomes FridgeBrilliance when you realise during their first encounter Faust calls the Wave members ''fascists''. Germans would understandably be offended by such an insult.
to:
* BombThrowingAnarchists: Subverted. Tim refuses to sell weed to some punks and is the one to escalate the argument by calling them names and pushing them. The punks respond in kind and are interrupted by Bomber and Sinan who comes to Tim's aid inspired by Rainer encouraging the class to help each other.
** Also the anarchist gang lead by Faust are not violent until they are provoked by the Wave-members putting up their symbol all over town. It becomes FridgeBrilliance when you realise during their first encounter Faust calls the Wave members ''fascists''. Germans would understandably be offended by such an insult.
** Also the anarchist gang lead by Faust are not violent until they are provoked by the Wave-members putting up their symbol all over town. It becomes FridgeBrilliance when you realise during their first encounter Faust calls the Wave members ''fascists''. Germans would understandably be offended by such an insult.
* EvilIsNotAToy: A non supernatural example. Turning your impressionable students into a autocratic youth-movement to prove a point in not only unethical but dangerous.
Changed line(s) 44 (click to see context) from:
* {{Hypocrite}}: Karo in subverted form; she only turns against The Wave when she chooses to not wear the uniform (white shirt) everyone in the Wave agreed on wearing, because of a comment from her mother, and thus starts see how the Wave treats non-members. It's likely she would not have turned against them if she had worn the uniform.
to:
* {{Hypocrite}}: Karo in subverted form; Karo; she only turns against The Wave when she chooses to not wear the uniform (white shirt) everyone in the Wave agreed on wearing, because of a comment from her mother, and thus starts see how the Wave treats non-members. It's likely she would not have turned against them if she had worn the uniform.
Added DiffLines:
* OrphanedReference: At the end [[spoiler: Tim claims the Bomber talked smack about him behind his back. This was originally a explicit reference to a scene were Bomber did just that which was deleted because it undermined why Tim would be so attached to the Wave and that Bomber actually improved due to the Wave]]. In the finished film, it comes off as more of a baseless accusation.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 46 (click to see context) from:
%%* LonersAreFreaks: {{Subverted}}. Tim's behavior is caused by him being desperate to not be alone any more.
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* AdaptationExpansion: With an extra hour of runtime over its predecessor, the 2008 version has more characters and adds more subplots demonstrating the effects of the Wave, such as the sequence in which the Wave members use graffiti to spread their symbol around town.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* AdaptationalJerkass: In the [[Film/TheWave1981 1981 version]], Mr. Ross and his wife have a tense debate about the ethics of his experiment, but Mr. Ross never stoops so low as to insult his wife. Here, Mr. Wenger and his wife Anke also get into a similar argument, but Wenger attacks Anke's anxiety problems, which then leads to her leaving him.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Loads And Loads Of Characters is no longer a trope
Deleted line(s) 44 (click to see context) :
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: A large part of Wenger's class are given names, characterization and even group dynamics, which adds to the realism of the film.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 24 (click to see context) from:
* BookEnds: The film opens with a enthusiatic and happy Wenger driving to school dressed in black and ends [[spoiler: with him being driven away by the police in a state of absolute shock and sorrow dressed in white.]]
to:
* BookEnds: The film opens with a enthusiatic enthusiastic and happy Wenger driving to school dressed in black and ends [[spoiler: with him being driven away by the police in a state of absolute shock and sorrow dressed in white.]]
Changed line(s) 31 (click to see context) from:
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The salute Bomber invents for the Wave (a hand motion that mimicks a wave) that every member including Wenger eagerly adopts is very reminicent of the fascist salute.
to:
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The salute Bomber invents for the Wave (a hand motion that mimicks a wave) that every member including Wenger eagerly adopts is very reminicent reminiscent of the fascist salute.
Changed line(s) 62 (click to see context) from:
* WhamLine: Wenger asks the students whether they would kill Marco if he asked them to.
to:
%% * WhamLine: Wenger asks the students whether they would kill Marco if he asked them to.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
*LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: A large part of Wenger's class are given names, characterization and even group dynamics, which adds to the realism of the film.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 26 (click to see context) from:
* ColorMotif: The classroom is filled with whites and a few greens. This is so [[spoiler: Karo will stick out when she does not put on the white shirt]].
to:
* ColorMotif: The classroom is filled with whites and a few greens. This is so [[spoiler: Karo [[spoiler:Karo will stick out when she does not put on the white shirt]].shirt.]]
Changed line(s) 28,29 (click to see context) from:
* CruelTwistEnding: [[spoiler:Tim's mental breakdown and subsequent suicide]]. Particularly jarring because nothing like that happens in the original film and book.
* DarkerAndEdgier: In both the original film and the book, the conflict is resolved when Mr. Ross reveals the true nature of the experiment to his students, and no violence takes place. In this remake, however, [[spoiler:the revelation causes one of the students to ''snap'' because he fears he will be lonely and bullied as before the experiment and he pulls out a gun and threatens the other students with it and actually ''shoots'' one of them, then threatens the teacher before killing ''himself'' instead]].
* DarkerAndEdgier: In both the original film and the book, the conflict is resolved when Mr. Ross reveals the true nature of the experiment to his students, and no violence takes place. In this remake, however, [[spoiler:the revelation causes one of the students to ''snap'' because he fears he will be lonely and bullied as before the experiment and he pulls out a gun and threatens the other students with it and actually ''shoots'' one of them, then threatens the teacher before killing ''himself'' instead]].
to:
* CruelTwistEnding: [[spoiler:Tim's mental breakdown and subsequent suicide]]. suicide.]] Particularly jarring because nothing like that happens in the original film and book.
* DarkerAndEdgier: In both the original film and the book, the conflict is resolved when Mr. Ross reveals the true nature of the experiment to his students, and no violence takes place. In this remake, however, [[spoiler:the revelation causes one of the students to ''snap'' because he fears he will be lonely and bullied as before the experiment and he pulls out a gun and threatens the other students with it and actually ''shoots'' one of them, then threatens the teacher before killing ''himself''instead]].instead.]]
* DarkerAndEdgier: In both the original film and the book, the conflict is resolved when Mr. Ross reveals the true nature of the experiment to his students, and no violence takes place. In this remake, however, [[spoiler:the revelation causes one of the students to ''snap'' because he fears he will be lonely and bullied as before the experiment and he pulls out a gun and threatens the other students with it and actually ''shoots'' one of them, then threatens the teacher before killing ''himself''
Changed line(s) 32 (click to see context) from:
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Tim shoots Bomber and then himself after the Wave is disbanded, Lisa and probably several other student's get traumatized and Wenger is arrested by the police]].
to:
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Tim [[spoiler:Tim shoots Bomber and then himself after the Wave is disbanded, Lisa and probably several other student's students get traumatized and Wenger is arrested by the police]]. police.]]
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
* {{Foreshadowing}}: At the very first day of the project week, Tim adapts to the new drill exceptionally well. [[spoiler: Guess who goes nuts after the reveal...]]
to:
* {{Foreshadowing}}: At the very first day of the project week, Tim adapts to the new drill exceptionally well. [[spoiler: Guess [[spoiler:Guess who goes nuts after the reveal...]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 24 (click to see context) from:
* BookEnds: The film opens with a enthusiatic and happy Wenger driving to school dressed in black and ends [[spoiler: with him being driven away by the police in a state of absolute shock and sorrow dressed in white]].
to:
* BookEnds: The film opens with a enthusiatic and happy Wenger driving to school dressed in black and ends [[spoiler: with him being driven away by the police in a state of absolute shock and sorrow dressed in white]]. white.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
%%* HeroicBSOD: Wenger, after [[spoiler: the shooting]].
to:
%%* HeroicBSOD: Wenger, after [[spoiler: the shooting]].[[spoiler:the shooting.]]
Changed line(s) 40 (click to see context) from:
* HopeSpot: Near the end of the film, when [[spoiler:Tim threatens everyone else with his gun during his mental breakdown]], for a moment it seems as if Wenger manages to bring him back to his senses ... and then [[spoiler:Tim shoots himself]].
to:
* HopeSpot: Near the end of the film, when [[spoiler:Tim threatens everyone else with his gun during his mental breakdown]], for a moment it seems as if Wenger manages to bring him back to his senses ... and then [[spoiler:Tim shoots himself]].himself.]]
Changed line(s) 47 (click to see context) from:
** [[spoiler:In the final moments of the film Wenger is sitting in the police car and is so tormented by his guilt over creating the Wave he can hardly hold back on his emotions]].
to:
** [[spoiler:In the final moments of the film Wenger is sitting in the police car and is so tormented by his guilt over creating the Wave he can hardly hold back on his emotions]].emotions.]]
Changed line(s) 54 (click to see context) from:
** The most common complaint about the movie is that the ending is much more extreme than the real life event. WordOfGod says the ending was influenced by [[spoiler: the Emsdetten school shooting in 2006, when the film was scripted, where a 18-year old bullying victim wounded 5 people and killed himself. In 2009, a year after the films release the Winnenden school shooting was perpetrated by another loner, this time a 17-year old boy with depression. His name?]]. [[HarsherInHindsight Tim]].
to:
** The most common complaint about the movie is that the ending is much more extreme than the real life event. WordOfGod says the ending was influenced by [[spoiler: the [[spoiler:the Emsdetten school shooting in 2006, when the film was scripted, where a 18-year old bullying victim wounded 5 people and killed himself. In 2009, a year after the films release the Winnenden school shooting was perpetrated by another loner, this time a 17-year old boy with depression. His name?]]. name?]] [[HarsherInHindsight Tim]]. Tim.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 56 (click to see context) :
* SomeAnvilsNeedsToBeDropped: Used in universe by Mona and later [[spoiler: and more successful by Wenger]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Cut trope. Can't tell if replacement or any others are applicable.
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
** Mona exaggerates how bad the Wave is in the pamphlet. Karo is uneasy about this while Mona [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped justifies it because it will get the point across]]. In a way it becomes a meta-commentary about [[DarkerAndEdgier the films ending]].
to:
** Mona exaggerates how bad the Wave is in the pamphlet. Karo is uneasy about this while Mona [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped justifies it because it will get the point across]].across. In a way it becomes a meta-commentary about [[DarkerAndEdgier the films ending]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
** Mona exaggerates how bad the Wave is in the pamphlet. Karo is uneasy about this while Mona [[SomeAnvilsNeedsToBeDropped justifies it because it will get the point across]]. In a way it becomes a meta-commentary about [[DarkerAndEdgier the films ending]].
to:
** Mona exaggerates how bad the Wave is in the pamphlet. Karo is uneasy about this while Mona [[SomeAnvilsNeedsToBeDropped [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped justifies it because it will get the point across]]. In a way it becomes a meta-commentary about [[DarkerAndEdgier the films ending]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/062523h1_3446.jpg]]
->''"Ihr seid also der Meinung, dass eine Diktatur heute in Deutschland nicht mehr möglich wäre?"''
->''"So, you are of the opinion that a dictatorship would no longer be possible in Germany today?"''
-->-- '''[[CoolTeacher Rainer Wenger]]'''
''Die Welle'' (''The Wave'') is the 2008 German remake of ''Film/TheWave1981'', the fictional version of Ron Jones' 'Third Wave' experiment, directed by Creator/DennisGansel and relocating the events to a school in present day Germany. The film takes the basic premise and reworks the characters to fit with the German setting and changes the ending to become more dramatic, but remains a disturbingly realistic take on how HistoryRepeats.
The teacher Rainer Wenger is assigned to hold a class on autocracy, against his wish to talk about anarchy. Deciding to do the best about the situation he finds out that most of his students just took the class because Wenger is a popular teacher, not because of the subject. Most of the students think that Germany could never be an autocracy like the Third Reich again. Wenger decides to start an experiment with his class to prove the opposite and things start to [[GoneHorriblyRight go horribly wrong...]]
The films star Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt and Jennifer Ulrich.
----
!!''Die Welle'' provides examples of:
%%
%%
%% Zero context examples have been commented out. Please write up a full example before uncommenting.
%%
%%
* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Karo's brother Leon is very rude due to the hands-off parenting style of their parents. He later joins the Wave and uses it's trappings to bully other children.
%%* BelligerentSexualTension: Between [[spoiler: Lisa and Marco]].
* BlatantLies: The computer geek that claims he is going to a LAN-party is seen taking part in the Wave-Party, also informing them about Karo's pamphlets allowing the members of the Wave to collect and destroy them before anyone else can read them.
** Mona exaggerates how bad the Wave is in the pamphlet. Karo is uneasy about this while Mona [[SomeAnvilsNeedsToBeDropped justifies it because it will get the point across]]. In a way it becomes a meta-commentary about [[DarkerAndEdgier the films ending]].
%%* BreakTheCutie: This happens to Lisa, Karo's best friend, at the end of the film.
* BookEnds: The film opens with a enthusiatic and happy Wenger driving to school dressed in black and ends [[spoiler: with him being driven away by the police in a state of absolute shock and sorrow dressed in white]].
* BombThrowingAnarchists: Subverted. The anarchist gang lead by Faust are not violent until they are provoked by the Wave-members putting up their symbol all over town. It becomes FridgeBrilliance when you realise during their first encounter Faust calls the Wave members ''fascists''. Germans would understandably be offended by such an insult.
* ColorMotif: The classroom is filled with whites and a few greens. This is so [[spoiler: Karo will stick out when she does not put on the white shirt]].
* CoolTeacher: Wenger is this, his class being full despite the "boring" topic and usually on a first-name basis with his students.
* CruelTwistEnding: [[spoiler:Tim's mental breakdown and subsequent suicide]]. Particularly jarring because nothing like that happens in the original film and book.
* DarkerAndEdgier: In both the original film and the book, the conflict is resolved when Mr. Ross reveals the true nature of the experiment to his students, and no violence takes place. In this remake, however, [[spoiler:the revelation causes one of the students to ''snap'' because he fears he will be lonely and bullied as before the experiment and he pulls out a gun and threatens the other students with it and actually ''shoots'' one of them, then threatens the teacher before killing ''himself'' instead]].
* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler:Tim, counterpart of Robert in the original, commits suicide at the end.]]
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The salute Bomber invents for the Wave (a hand motion that mimicks a wave) that every member including Wenger eagerly adopts is very reminicent of the fascist salute.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Tim shoots Bomber and then himself after the Wave is disbanded, Lisa and probably several other student's get traumatized and Wenger is arrested by the police]].
* ForeignRemake: Towards the original film and book ''Film/TheWave1981''. Set in the country whose history was the original's inspiration, no less.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: At the very first day of the project week, Tim adapts to the new drill exceptionally well. [[spoiler: Guess who goes nuts after the reveal...]]
* GangOfBullies: Sinan, Bomber and Kevin. Sinan & Bomber reform thanks to the Wave.
* GoneHorriblyRight: The Wave is meant to teach the students about fascism and autocracy by example and the students starts to enjoy it. Even Wenger is enthralled because his students are more motivated than ever.
%%* HeroicBSOD: Wenger, after [[spoiler: the shooting]].
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Wenger, an anti-fascist anarchist, starts the project to teach his students how easy it is to fall to fascism, but according to his wife, starts to enjoy being leader a bit too much.
%%* HistoryRepeats: Main point of the film.
* HopeSpot: Near the end of the film, when [[spoiler:Tim threatens everyone else with his gun during his mental breakdown]], for a moment it seems as if Wenger manages to bring him back to his senses ... and then [[spoiler:Tim shoots himself]].
%%* HotTeacher: Rainer's wife.
* {{Hypocrite}}: Karo in subverted form; she only turns against The Wave when she chooses to not wear the uniform (white shirt) everyone in the Wave agreed on wearing, because of a comment from her mother, and thus starts see how the Wave treats non-members. It's likely she would not have turned against them if she had worn the uniform.
%%* LaResistance: Karo & Mona.
%%* LonersAreFreaks: {{Subverted}}. Tim's behavior is caused by him being desperate to not be alone any more.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone:
** Marco has one of these after he hits Karo for opposing the Wave.
** [[spoiler:In the final moments of the film Wenger is sitting in the police car and is so tormented by his guilt over creating the Wave he can hardly hold back on his emotions]].
%%* NoAntagonist
%%* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: During the water polo game.
%%* OnlyOneName: Most of the characters.
* PlayingHardToGet: After they had an argument, Karo tries to call Marco. Lisa is present and advises Marco to play hard to get and not answer. Cue Karo lying on her bed crying.
%%* PuttingOnTheReich: Natch.
* RealityIsUnrealistic:
** The most common complaint about the movie is that the ending is much more extreme than the real life event. WordOfGod says the ending was influenced by [[spoiler: the Emsdetten school shooting in 2006, when the film was scripted, where a 18-year old bullying victim wounded 5 people and killed himself. In 2009, a year after the films release the Winnenden school shooting was perpetrated by another loner, this time a 17-year old boy with depression. His name?]]. [[HarsherInHindsight Tim]].
** To American audiences, it might seem odd that high school students casually address their teachers by their given name, whereas the teachers address each other as "Herr/Frau [surname]." This is actually quite common in German schools, and indeed in many professions, coworkers don't address each other by given names.
* SomeAnvilsNeedsToBeDropped: Used in universe by Mona and later [[spoiler: and more successful by Wenger]].
* SuspiciouslyAproposMusic:
** The film opens with Rainer listening to "Rock'n'Roll Highschool", a song about not caring about history, not wanting to be taught to be a fool and only having fun.
** When the two guys talk about how the youth of today is aimless, the song in the background is sung from the perspective of a bored youth who is aimless and dangerous.
** When Bomber and Kevin skate and unintentionally get Karo's brother to join the Wave, the song playing at the skate ring is "Everything Is Under Control", a song about a movement getting control over people.
* UglyGuyHotWife: Rainer is not pretty and his wife is a HotTeacher. But Rainer is so charming and charismatic it is easy to get why she likes him.
* WhamLine: Wenger asks the students whether they would kill Marco if he asked them to.
----
->''"Ihr seid also der Meinung, dass eine Diktatur heute in Deutschland nicht mehr möglich wäre?"''
->''"So, you are of the opinion that a dictatorship would no longer be possible in Germany today?"''
-->-- '''[[CoolTeacher Rainer Wenger]]'''
''Die Welle'' (''The Wave'') is the 2008 German remake of ''Film/TheWave1981'', the fictional version of Ron Jones' 'Third Wave' experiment, directed by Creator/DennisGansel and relocating the events to a school in present day Germany. The film takes the basic premise and reworks the characters to fit with the German setting and changes the ending to become more dramatic, but remains a disturbingly realistic take on how HistoryRepeats.
The teacher Rainer Wenger is assigned to hold a class on autocracy, against his wish to talk about anarchy. Deciding to do the best about the situation he finds out that most of his students just took the class because Wenger is a popular teacher, not because of the subject. Most of the students think that Germany could never be an autocracy like the Third Reich again. Wenger decides to start an experiment with his class to prove the opposite and things start to [[GoneHorriblyRight go horribly wrong...]]
The films star Jürgen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt and Jennifer Ulrich.
----
!!''Die Welle'' provides examples of:
%%
%%
%% Zero context examples have been commented out. Please write up a full example before uncommenting.
%%
%%
* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Karo's brother Leon is very rude due to the hands-off parenting style of their parents. He later joins the Wave and uses it's trappings to bully other children.
%%* BelligerentSexualTension: Between [[spoiler: Lisa and Marco]].
* BlatantLies: The computer geek that claims he is going to a LAN-party is seen taking part in the Wave-Party, also informing them about Karo's pamphlets allowing the members of the Wave to collect and destroy them before anyone else can read them.
** Mona exaggerates how bad the Wave is in the pamphlet. Karo is uneasy about this while Mona [[SomeAnvilsNeedsToBeDropped justifies it because it will get the point across]]. In a way it becomes a meta-commentary about [[DarkerAndEdgier the films ending]].
%%* BreakTheCutie: This happens to Lisa, Karo's best friend, at the end of the film.
* BookEnds: The film opens with a enthusiatic and happy Wenger driving to school dressed in black and ends [[spoiler: with him being driven away by the police in a state of absolute shock and sorrow dressed in white]].
* BombThrowingAnarchists: Subverted. The anarchist gang lead by Faust are not violent until they are provoked by the Wave-members putting up their symbol all over town. It becomes FridgeBrilliance when you realise during their first encounter Faust calls the Wave members ''fascists''. Germans would understandably be offended by such an insult.
* ColorMotif: The classroom is filled with whites and a few greens. This is so [[spoiler: Karo will stick out when she does not put on the white shirt]].
* CoolTeacher: Wenger is this, his class being full despite the "boring" topic and usually on a first-name basis with his students.
* CruelTwistEnding: [[spoiler:Tim's mental breakdown and subsequent suicide]]. Particularly jarring because nothing like that happens in the original film and book.
* DarkerAndEdgier: In both the original film and the book, the conflict is resolved when Mr. Ross reveals the true nature of the experiment to his students, and no violence takes place. In this remake, however, [[spoiler:the revelation causes one of the students to ''snap'' because he fears he will be lonely and bullied as before the experiment and he pulls out a gun and threatens the other students with it and actually ''shoots'' one of them, then threatens the teacher before killing ''himself'' instead]].
* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler:Tim, counterpart of Robert in the original, commits suicide at the end.]]
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The salute Bomber invents for the Wave (a hand motion that mimicks a wave) that every member including Wenger eagerly adopts is very reminicent of the fascist salute.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Tim shoots Bomber and then himself after the Wave is disbanded, Lisa and probably several other student's get traumatized and Wenger is arrested by the police]].
* ForeignRemake: Towards the original film and book ''Film/TheWave1981''. Set in the country whose history was the original's inspiration, no less.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: At the very first day of the project week, Tim adapts to the new drill exceptionally well. [[spoiler: Guess who goes nuts after the reveal...]]
* GangOfBullies: Sinan, Bomber and Kevin. Sinan & Bomber reform thanks to the Wave.
* GoneHorriblyRight: The Wave is meant to teach the students about fascism and autocracy by example and the students starts to enjoy it. Even Wenger is enthralled because his students are more motivated than ever.
%%* HeroicBSOD: Wenger, after [[spoiler: the shooting]].
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Wenger, an anti-fascist anarchist, starts the project to teach his students how easy it is to fall to fascism, but according to his wife, starts to enjoy being leader a bit too much.
%%* HistoryRepeats: Main point of the film.
* HopeSpot: Near the end of the film, when [[spoiler:Tim threatens everyone else with his gun during his mental breakdown]], for a moment it seems as if Wenger manages to bring him back to his senses ... and then [[spoiler:Tim shoots himself]].
%%* HotTeacher: Rainer's wife.
* {{Hypocrite}}: Karo in subverted form; she only turns against The Wave when she chooses to not wear the uniform (white shirt) everyone in the Wave agreed on wearing, because of a comment from her mother, and thus starts see how the Wave treats non-members. It's likely she would not have turned against them if she had worn the uniform.
%%* LaResistance: Karo & Mona.
%%* LonersAreFreaks: {{Subverted}}. Tim's behavior is caused by him being desperate to not be alone any more.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone:
** Marco has one of these after he hits Karo for opposing the Wave.
** [[spoiler:In the final moments of the film Wenger is sitting in the police car and is so tormented by his guilt over creating the Wave he can hardly hold back on his emotions]].
%%* NoAntagonist
%%* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: During the water polo game.
%%* OnlyOneName: Most of the characters.
* PlayingHardToGet: After they had an argument, Karo tries to call Marco. Lisa is present and advises Marco to play hard to get and not answer. Cue Karo lying on her bed crying.
%%* PuttingOnTheReich: Natch.
* RealityIsUnrealistic:
** The most common complaint about the movie is that the ending is much more extreme than the real life event. WordOfGod says the ending was influenced by [[spoiler: the Emsdetten school shooting in 2006, when the film was scripted, where a 18-year old bullying victim wounded 5 people and killed himself. In 2009, a year after the films release the Winnenden school shooting was perpetrated by another loner, this time a 17-year old boy with depression. His name?]]. [[HarsherInHindsight Tim]].
** To American audiences, it might seem odd that high school students casually address their teachers by their given name, whereas the teachers address each other as "Herr/Frau [surname]." This is actually quite common in German schools, and indeed in many professions, coworkers don't address each other by given names.
* SomeAnvilsNeedsToBeDropped: Used in universe by Mona and later [[spoiler: and more successful by Wenger]].
* SuspiciouslyAproposMusic:
** The film opens with Rainer listening to "Rock'n'Roll Highschool", a song about not caring about history, not wanting to be taught to be a fool and only having fun.
** When the two guys talk about how the youth of today is aimless, the song in the background is sung from the perspective of a bored youth who is aimless and dangerous.
** When Bomber and Kevin skate and unintentionally get Karo's brother to join the Wave, the song playing at the skate ring is "Everything Is Under Control", a song about a movement getting control over people.
* UglyGuyHotWife: Rainer is not pretty and his wife is a HotTeacher. But Rainer is so charming and charismatic it is easy to get why she likes him.
* WhamLine: Wenger asks the students whether they would kill Marco if he asked them to.
----
