The White Ribbon Analysis

The White Ribbon, by Michael Haneke, was released in 2009 in select theatres around the globe. Haneke’s film is an art piece that questions the society of Pre-World War I in their cultural actions. The White Ribbon reflects on the events of the town to take after the coming crisis in Germany through its utilization of mise-en-scene and motifs. Haneke employs a plethora of separate motifs to demonstrate the issues of the small village. One of the main motifs used is this film is the concept of the pure vs. the impure. This is portrayed through the sexual affairs in the film. The pure relationship is demonstrated through The School Teacher (Christian Friedal) and Eva (Leonie Benesch). Their entire romance is a light fluff as the audience watches …show more content…
It is only The Baroness (Ursina Lardi) who takes matters into her own hands when she leaves The Baron (Ulrich Tukur) to protect her children. Even Klara, (Maria-Victoria Dragus) who acts as the voice and leader for the children of the town, looses her vocalization when confronted by The Pastor. It is only when he isn’t present, like when she kills his pet bird that she acts against him. This is again displayed in the moments before the confirmation class. In the beginning of this scene she acts as the leader looking out for trouble and telling the rest of the children to calm down when she finds it. As The Pastor approaches she loses more and more of her voice and maturity over the other minors the closer The Pastor gets, and when he finally arrives she becomes an adolescent once …show more content…
During the film characters are commonly cast in shadow as their only light emanates from a single source. The characters are frequently portrayed as only outlines. When the cast searches for Karli (Eddy Grahl) in the woods, each separate character illuminates themselves by only their own torch, allowing the surrounding area of the screen to remain black. It is only when they discover the young boy that the light combines to create a set for the characters to gather on. Haneke also utilizes the light for a dramatic effect and to set the emotional tone. When the second death in the town occurs, the death of the woman in the mill, her husband comes to visit and morn her body. When he first enters the room his form is merely an outline in the doorway creating an ominous effect. As he steps into the room his face is half-lit giving him a conflicted appearance, allowing the audience to read his emotional state as he wonders if he should stay or run away. Haneke continues his use of mise-en-scenes to create a dramatic effect in the