Daily Archives

13 May 2006

Review: The Edukators

I rented a ton of DVDs this weekend. Well, four. But that’s a lot for me. There was a strange foreign film, Russian Ark, an old favourite, Being John Malkovich, and a documentary, New York Doll…all good. But the best was Hans Weingartner’s The Edukators.

The basic premise of the movie is this: The Edukators, social activists, break into the homes of rich German executives, rearrange their belongings and leave them a warning: “Your Days of Plenty are Numbered.” That’s all well and good – and would make an entertaining enough plot – but what happens when one of their executive thieves comes home while they are at work? Kidnap him in a Volkswagen Van and drive him out to your uncle’s cabin, clearly. The story hits its stride as the ‘political prisoner’ attempts to break down The Edukators…and learns a lesson in the process.

Reasons to watch:

  • you liked Daniel Brühl in Goodbye, Lenin!
  • quirky American indie soundtrack
  • German dialogue and lots of it
  • makes you feel better about thinking the world is unfair
  • Julia Jentsch is really easy on the eyes and a good actress

4 stars

P.S. If you aren’t listening to “Pure Energy” by Information Society on a loop, you really should reconsider that decision. Or I’ve lost it. Either way. “I wanna know what you’re thinking…”