The Wave

    Out of all the films that we’ve watched so far, The Wave has been my favorite because it opened my eyes to a possibility that I had never considered before. Sophie and Styrling started the class by asking the question, “Do you think something like Hitler’s regime could happen again today?” I didn’t raise my hand because, before watching this film, it wasn’t a possibility in my mind. However, after seeing the film, I now see that not only is it possible, but it can happen surprisingly easily. The key is that the movement gets slowly built up over time, so most of the people involved don’t realize how far it has gone.

The film begins with a class on anarchy and one on autocracy. In the autocracy class, the teacher immediately begins to build uniformity among his students; he tells them to dress the same and mixes up friend groups, so that everyone feels equal in the class. While watching, I found myself wondering why some students were trying to go against the norm. I didn’t understand why the students wouldn’t just wear the white clothes or follow the instructions. Looking back, I realize that these students were some of the only ones able to speak up for themselves.

At first, I didn’t see anything wrong with The Wave as a social group. We all identify ourselves with different groups, and many times, our actions align with those of our fellow members. For example, during recruitment in my sorority, I wear what I’m told to wear and say what I’m told to say. I started growing skeptical when the group left the classroom and began to take over the skate park. My doubts grew when they began vandalizing their city, and I was completely against The Wave when a gun was pulled out. What baffled me was that many of the group members still didn’t see anything amiss.

The members of The Wave began to ostracize students who refused to join and support their group. I was shocked when Marco hit Karo, and that was when I realized how strongly the movement had influenced these students. Although we didn’t get to the end of the film in class, I went home and watched the entire thing. The ending was so sad, and it made me even more upset knowing that this film was inspired by an actual classroom experiment. This film is so interesting because it’s difficult to identify the point of no return, and it’s even harder to put yourself in the shoes of the students and determine when you would have spoken up.

This film made an impact on me because it showed me the importance of strong leadership, but also the importance of thinking for yourself. In the final scene, the students drag Marco to the stage under their teacher’s command because he has started to doubt The Wave. They appear willing to do almost anything their teacher asks. This reveals how much influence a leader can have over a group. It demonstrates the responsibility that comes with that level of power.

The film also demonstrates the importance of thinking for yourself and considering the consequences of your own actions. Only a few students were able to realize that what they were doing was wrong and have the courage to speak up. The vast majority continued to go along with the group without questioning the implications. The Wave showed me how easily conformity can overpower individual thought, and it revealed that the patterns of the past have the possibility to be recreated today.