Movie Loner

One of my favorite films is Fight Club. If you haven’t seen it, shame on you, but if you haven’t stop reading because I’m going to give away the story. The movie is about a paranoid schizophrenic who wages a crusade against capitalism and everything associated with the “establishment.” Despite the presence of Brad Pitt the film is quite subversive, taking shots at everything from self-help groups to IKEA furniture. I dig subversive movies; they are becoming a rare breed in American cinema. Luckily, European filmmakers still have balls. From Germany, I give you The Edukators.

Peter and Jan are best friends and budding revolutionists. Their method of sticking it to the “man” consists of breaking into mansions and rearranging furniture. To top it off, they leave mundane notes that read “you make too much money,” signed The Edukators. Jule is Peter’s girlfriend. Drowning in debt, Jule is forced to give up her apartment and move in with Peter and Jan. After Peter leaves on a trip to Spain, Jan and Jule begin hanging out. Jule soon takes a liking to Jan’s idealistic ways. Jan reveals his late-night transgressions to Jule, prompting her to press Jan into infiltrating the estate owned by the man she is indebted to, a man named Hardenberg.

Carelessness leads Jan and Jule to be discovered by a returning from vacation Hardenberg. Jan and Jule panic, knock out Hardenberg, then call Peter for advice. Peter arrives and the three decide the best course of action is to kidnap Hardenberg. They head for a remote mountain cabin to hide out until they figure their next move. Hardenberg is chastised for his extravagant lifestyle. Jan and Jule try to conceal their romance from Peter. Their cozy retreat becomes a hotbed for political debate as the two sides expound philosophies only to learn that they share much in common. The older, content Hardenberg rediscovers his defiant past. Jan, Jule and Peter accept responsibility for their youthful misdeeds. Everyone receives a much needed education.

Director Hans Weingartner deserves praise for keeping the story tied to reality. Intelligent discourse as opposed to needless violence steers the plot. Weingartner gives his characters time to fully develop, allowing the audience to witness each one’s transformation from start to finish. Fine performances are delivered by the four leads, in particular a convincing Daniel Bruhl who plays the rebellious Jan. The Edukators is about combating the system, but it’s also about friendship, young love, and the complacency of wealth, making it a complete film worth seeing.

The trailer for The Edukators: