'The Wave' a provocative drama

Drama/Thriller

Cert 15

Hip teacher Rainer Wenger (Jurgen Vogel) proposes a class experiment whereby students establish their own fascist regime.

Many of the impressionable youngsters follow Rainer’s lead without question, including Tim (Frederick Lau), Marco (Max Riemelt) and Sinan (Elyas M’Barek).

However, Marco’s highly intelligent girlfriend Karo (Jennifer Ulrich) foresees a dangerous resolution to Rainer’s ambitious school project and tries to warn her teacher.

“It’s totally out of control,” she tells Rainer firmly, but he is blind to the signs of impending doom and replies tersely: “Then you’ll have to change courses.”

Sure enough, as the students’ enthusiasm spirals out of control, it sets off a tragic and terrifying chain of events in Dennis Gansel’s provocative drama.

Star rating: 3/5.