Perhaps the most admirable aspect of The Wave is the message at the heart of it – that if you give a troubled person a secure state to latch onto and then take it away from them soon thereafter, it can have unimaginable effects. It’s in this sense that the film is tragic, not just in its conclusion but throughout most of it. There’s a general sense that something could go wrong at any moment and you’re just left to figure out what it is and when it will happen.
I wouldn’t say the film was “enjoyable” per se, although there are some chuckle-worthy and fast-paced scenes that could be described as “fun”, but rather a film that’s more about admiring the technical accomplishments or appreciating the messages behind it all.
The conclusion of the film is what makes it good. It happened with last year’s Atonement where I liked the film a fair bit but the almost note-perfect ending raised the quality for me. The ending seems inevitable and is the culmination if you’re wondering about what could ultimately go wrong. The film sends you away thinking about everything you’ve just witnessed.
The performances are great, the story interesting, and the messages behind it admirable. The Wall is strong filmmaking which seems to get better the more you think about it, and a fine example of modern European cinema.
Article comments
1 - Jacob Davis
Why did you call it the "The Wall" at the end?