User reviews

I'm sure there will be plenty of people that will accuse "The edukators" of being such a cheap anti-capitalism manifest, a "cool" product designed for rich boys who feel like making a revolution. Whatever, nowadays we need idealism more than ever, we need to believe in lost causes, we have to appeal to the dignity of the individual and to spit in the riches' faces. "The Edukators" is one way of doing all those things from the cinema screen by telling the story of three rebel young guys that won't stay and look without doing a thing while the big corporations destroy this world and turn us into working-hard zombies. They have an idea: to assault mansions, mess everything up, to make trouble just to scare the owners... not to steal, not to break things. It is all about disconcerting. Obviously their "game" will soon get out of hand, they'll get involved in a kidnapping, and they will bump into something that's more powerful than revolution or ideals: love. Two boys, one girl... that means TROUBLES.

As I said, we need more movies like this one that are so well made, and also tries to open people's eyes. (Unfortunatelly I'm sure that those who should get their eyes opened will never watch "The Edukators".

PS: It is worth to watch "The Edukators" even if it's just for the last minutes of the film, with Jeff Buckley singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallellujah" (that also proves the director's exquisite taste).

*My rate: 8/10

Don't let anyone tell you horror stories about the camera work, they probably never had an ounce of imagination anywhere in their bodies!

For those of us who are bored blind with standard Hollywood-ian movies, this kind of camera work is very refreshing. The constant motion puts us right into the characters' world and helps foster an instant connection with them. Not that one wouldn't connect with them without the fancy directing! On the contrary, Jan, Jule, and Peter will reawaken the idealist in anyone.

The movie is essentially about three friends with seemingly no particular direction in life other than petty political activism now and then. But Peter and Jan have found a very clever way of subverting the socio-economic system they so despise. Calling themselves "the Edukators", they break into the homes of the fabulously wealthy only to make some absurd adjustments to the arrangement of their furniture and leave a simple note behind: "You have too much money."

With this basic plot, The Edukators delves into that ill-defined human notion of morality, eventually blurring the line between the ethics of social politics and the ethics of personal relationships.

Don't let the plot scare you, you don't have to be an anarchist to enjoy this movie! It's well-written, beautifully shot, and flawlessly performed. Some of the drawbacks are that it gets a little long and preachy at the end (which happens fairly often to new directors), but let's not nitpick. I'm willing to gloss over the film's (rare) faults because, in the end, there is far too much to take home from this movie. It's a real shame that some would wish to dismiss it as some crackpot anarchist film.

I have to issue a few words of warning first:

Don't see this movie after you have just enjoyed a really good Hollywood-production (as I did). Because if you do you may at first be put off a little bit by the quality of this digital productions that does not quite come up to 35mm-standards.

You will notice this for about 10 seconds.

Two hours later however you won't quite understand anymore what exactly it was you liked so much about this great Hollywood-movie that suddenly seems to be so shallow, so void of real issues and characters ...

This is a wonderful, wonderful gem of a movie that won't bore you even for a second and will keep you thinking for days and days.

I don't want to go into the plot here (see for yourself), just that: This is NOT a movie that can be summed up in one statement. It is a film about political activism, love, friendship, ideals in life and how we betray them, the generation if 1968 and what became of them, the dynamics of small groups and, and, and...

To wrap so much relevant issues into a gripping, highly entertaining and even funny story for me is a real miracle in scriptwriting. The dialogues are outstanding.

Of course the main reason this movie works so well is the fantastic cast. All four main characters are absolutely phenomenal and of course Danny Bruehl and Julia Jentsch show again that they are the best German actors of their generation.

This movie touches you emotionally, gives you food for thought and entertains immensely at the same time. For me it is the best movie I have seen this year.

This is what cinema should be like.

I went to see the film completely unprepared, and I left the theatre rather euphoric. I liked the film because of the amiable story, the roughly-sketched but believable characters (even if we don't learn too much about their backgrounds) and the funny, witty dialog. And last but not least the surprise in the end -- until three minutes to the end I wouldn't have had an idea how to end a story like this.

The four main characters were cast exceptionally well, and the dialog -- whew! Yes, the kidnappers seem very naive (so does the manager, btw, in another way), and the words they use are heavy with cliché, but it's not a message of any kind that's new and interesting. It's what happens beyond words: I've rarely seen people in a movie talk and talk so much about convictions and ideology, but all the really important things happen inside them and without words.

So go and watch this film but don't jump on the political statements. Things might have some more layers here.

the edukators is a hugely enjoyable film that perfectly balances the human themes of friendship, love and trust with it's more political undertones.

the main characters are all performed with warmth and a playfulness that keeps the human side of the story engaging, while the plot develops with continual twists and tension. of course the idealism and activism of the protagonists plays a central roll, but the film never falls to the temptation to preach or bog itself down with weighty polemic.

all in all, the edukators is a breath of fresh air that is both satisfying to the head and the heart. highly recommended.

The cast is impressive. Daniel Bruhl once again shows that he can act. The plot attracts your entire attention as you live the experiences of these three kids in Berlin, and their quest to denounce the evils of capitalism. There's romance, jokes, great scenery and good music. At first it seemed to me this movie was the continuation of Good Bye Lenin (probably because of Daniel in Berlin?) Eitherway, It made me want to travel around Europe some more, learn German, and also think about my obsession with shopping and TV. Very inspiring. In a few words, this movie questions our understanding of happiness and success in a very entertaining way.

... but the days of plenty for German Cinema obviously just started!!

I saw this movie at the Cork Film Festival yesterday night. Being originally from Germany and a huge Daniel Bruehl Fan I HAD to watch this movie. Of course I didn't get disappointed: it's such a brilliant movie with such a profound statement. Hans Weingartner seems to be gifted with a unique power of observation: not living in Germany at the moment made me very sensitive for clichéd German behaviour (Scenes like the one in the tram and the restaurant are just so typical!) Great acting by outstandingly talented young actors (can Daniel Bruehl get any better? Obviously he can!), witty dialogues and a surprising ending made this movie pure fun watching every single second! I am very glad that if German movies make it abroad they are such smart movies as this one (or Run Lola Run, Goodbye Lenin,...). I hope to see more and more German movies over here in the future.

The days of plenty just started for the German Cinema!

I was really ashamed of being German when I saw this movie (which got so many awards). The characters are so ridiculous that I first thought it was a comedy. Unti the very end I was expecting a major twist in the story because I could not imagine that a such highly decorated film has such shallow characters and such a lame and predictable story. For me this movie could not be recommended to adults because of the childishness of the characters and not to kids because of the dubious political message. That is something like socialism in Disneyland. The story is full of clichés , e.g. the scene in the restaurant with the snobbish guests. All rich people are evil and the poor ones are nice, idealistic and want to become teachers. Absurd and simply wrong is the way Jule got to her outstanding debt by crashing the rich mans' car without being covered by insurance. You simply cannot incur debts that high as a private person because there is a law in Germany against that to protect people from ruining themselves in the long run ("Privatinsolvenzrecht"). Therefore the whole "argumentation" and plot is impossible. The only good thing about that crap (pardon my French) is the shooting of the Alp scenery.

I went to this film expecting a comedy in the mold of "Sonnenallee" or "Good Bye Lenin", and I wasn't disappointed. The characters became very real to me, even Hardenberg, the kidnapped businessman, who was a bit wooden at the beginning. For me, the best part of the film was watching the relationships build between all 4 of the main characters, both before and after the kidnapping. There is really very little action in the film: it's more about watching the characters develop personally and in their dealings with each other. Lest this sound too dry, I found the film quite humorous at times, exciting and emotionally intense. The conclusion is left open to interpretation--but you'll have to watch the film quite carefully to have the data you need to make your own interpretation! Highly recommended!

Die Fetten Jahre sind vorbei (The Edukators) is the first German film in competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival since Wim Wender's In weiter Ferne, so nah! (Faraway, So Close!) in 1993. The film's protagonists, Jan, Peter and Jule, dream of changing society. They form "The Edukators," a group that warns the rich and disturbs their material comfort with non-violent actions. In "the Edukators" Hans Weingartner raises the question: "What happened to the revolutionary generation of the sixties? Where are all the anarchists, hippies and idealists that wanted to change the world? I loved the movie, it is condemning and inspiring at the same time, depressing and uplifting and as a viewer you are forced to decide if you feel sympathy for the idealistic young people or the successful materialistic businessman. Or both?!

This film could be roughly divided into 2 halves: 1st, with 3 main characters, is more dynamic, 2nd, with 4 main characters, is more static; the 1st means more action, the 2nd - more reasoning. Both are skilfully created and accomplished, but the 3 young people among themselves seemed more interesting and realistic to me than 3 young vs 1 older; the latter's reactions were sometimes not so feasible. Luckily, the ending has several twists, so you "forget" that/if you started to scent a trivial round-up.

Anyway, all performances were good and distinct, perhaps Daniel Brühl's character was more versatile, with more presence on screen (or he is just more famous internationally?).

Thus, a recommended film about reality vs. idealism, empathy vs. conformism, and other topics giving food for thought. And I began to yearn for their hippie Volkswagen bus again... :)

This movie has everything to be an excellent movie for young people (but also enjoyable for older people). There is loads of political statement made which should make everyone think even if u don't share the opinion. I mean, how many movies are there which talk about politics at all? The movie is full of emotions acted pretty well. The camera which makes u feel to be very close to the scenes and the music support these emotions successfully.

Even if you are not that kind of anarchist, there are still some scenes which are just so familiar to yourself. It's a movie about youth itself I suppose.

The movie is a must-see

Though it does rather run out of steam at the end, this is quite a fun dramatisation following three radical twenty-somethings who want to teach the wealthy a lesson. "Jan" (Daniel Brühl) and "Jule" (Julia Jentsch) decide to break into the luxury home of "Herdenberg" (Burghart Klaußner) and have some fun. They rearrange his furniture, pinch his booze - even throw his expensive leather sofa into his swimming pool. They leave before he gets home, but quickly she discovers she has left her phone behind. They're not so lucky on their return visit to fetch it, and soon they find themselves with an unwilling hostage and on the run. They draft in the support of her boyfriend and fellow activist "Peter" (Stipe Erceg) and head to a remote cabin where the four, over a period of a few days, start to rethink their lives, loves and priorities. Thing is, what are they to do with their prisoner? It's an enjoyably lighthearted drama, this, with engaging performances from Brühl and from Jenstch whilst we watch Klaußner never quite sure if his character is a man, with a lively past of his own, who can be trusted. It is too long, and the second hour could do with some judicious use of the razor blade, but the writing delivers quite an understated yet potent message about what actually matters and at how politics change as we age and in many cases re-evaluate.

The first review I read of this movie criticized the camera work. I wonder why? For an indie production, this was a surprisingly high quality film and nowhere near as jerky as, say, Cloverfield. If you tend towards sea-sickness and have been avoiding watching this film for that reason then rest assured that there is no need to bring a sick bag to the viewing.

Having said that, I found the Edukators to be a well developed character drama that pulled the carpet out from under my feet just when it started to get too comfortable. The three central, activist characters have perfect amount of cynicism, idealism and vulnerability. Their views never came across as preachy, merely pragmatic. But then I'm left wing, so I guess I would say that - however, the 'other side of the story' gets a chance to be heard in the form of Mr. Hardenberg. As a child of a baby boomer I found him to be a familiar character, full of his generation's mournful sense of complicity in corruption. The only complaint i had is that the action drags a bit towards the end, but this is compensated for by the clever twist at the ending.

It's hard to find a story out there that actually contributes emotional depth to the 'capitalist vs. socialist' debate instead of focusing on rhetoric. That's why I am thankful to the makers of this film for contributing such a solid story to the mix. I would definitely recommend it to any activist friends who want to think beyond the next demo and/or leafletting session.

First of all, this is not an epic movie, but it is as long as an epic movie. The first 45 minutes or so could be shortened to 10 or 15 minutes.

The ending is not very reasonable, but it was a surprise to me. Because the guy already knew those three, even if they moved to a new place, the police can easily put their face mugs on the internet and on TV, and the police should be able to track them easily. They just can't run away. Unlike they moved to spain already, because the maid seems to be speaking Spanish to the girl.

This kind of movie can never be made in the US, because it is truly an anti-capitalist movie. And I doubt that it will get any funding for it.

Some of the sceneries on the mountain were beautiful.

I'm easily pleased in the cinema, I promise you, but after an hour of Die Fetten Jahre Sind Vorbei, known over here in Limeyland as The Edukators, I was ready to leave. Respect for social niceties bade me stay (my wife wouldn't have been pleased to have been left in Derby without the car, and no means of getting home), in addition to the fact that I have never left a movie prematurely anyway, but I could easily have broken my duck here.

This is almost a bad movie, its single redeeming feature being the excellent acting throughout, of Bruhl, Jensch, Erceg and Burghart Klaussner, particularly, in his role as the kidnapped Hardenburg. There are three deficiencies and they are all considerable. First and least, the first hour is slow and turgid. In short, we learn of a futile pseudo-revolutionary, young double-act, the self-styled Edukators. We learn what they do and we watch while Peter, essentially a good looking, shallow dope, lose his girl to the sullen Jan. Talking of shallow, were I not myself sufficiently weak as to be a willing target for the considerable visual charms of Julia Jensch as Jule, I'd have caught up on some sleep, I'm sure.

Problem two involves the plotting. It's asinine throughout the movie. The narrative development depends upon the retrieval of a left-behind phone – oh, crikey – and at the end, an implausible move by Hardenburg. The three-second shot of his supposed agonising next to a packet of cigarettes was laughable. Whilst it's fair to say that human beings are nothing if not strange, illogical and outright daft, if writers Held (and director) Weingartner had held their nerve, the film could have ended as a pleasant, if lightweight and flawed (see problem 3) piece. However, they chose to go for an endgame clever-clever flourish that had me frothing at the mouth and scowling as the credits rolled (a difficult trick to pull off simultaneously).

Character and plot are like Siamese twins. Held and Weingartner's plot is badly wrong because they allow their characters to behave in ways that stretch credulity. The hard-nosed renegade Jan allows his attraction to Jule to break activist vows. Jan and Peter fall out, then resurrect their friendship for the sake of politics. Hardenburg decides to change his attitude to his kidnappers (as already referred to above). Here for this author, were three rank bad writing moves where the writers failed to let their characters – very well created, to be fair – to be true to themselves. If they want to make the point that humans do act irrationally, they didn't set it up conscientiously.

Worst of all we have the appallingly unbelievable spectacle of the bourgeois Hardenburg revealing himself to have once been the associate of the Beider Meinhof terrorists. Unless Held/Weingartner have him lying through his teeth, then this was like Mickey Mouse trying to convince us that really, he was Tsar Nicholas II. If he was lying, then it wasn't remotely hinted at in any way in the script or body language of the actors. This was rank bad stuff.

Thirdly: if characterisation was poor in the movie (leading to disastrous plot moves), then the thematic content here in terms of modern young attitudes to 21st century materialism, was nothing better than GCSE level stuff. We see Edukators shake their political thing, breaking and entering, and whatnot; this is merely dull; to hear them expound their philosophy to Hardenburg was excruciating. The outlaws would have been better deployed so as to make a study in socio-political immaturity. The writers came over as being sympathetic to their counter-cultural philosophies through atrociously amateurish dialogue. I wouldn't have followed the trio down to the corner to buy a bar of chocolate, let alone man the barricades. It was all I could do to stop myself shouting, "Go out and get a bloody job!" at the screen. Admittedly, my view is skewed by my own bourgeois materialist attitudes, but really, after a hundred years of cinema, anyone making a movie, expecting anyone with a shred of intellect and a movie-going back story has to be and do better than this.

One final point: anyone making a movie these days also has to do better than dump Buckley singing 'Hallelujah' onto the soundtrack, hoping that we're not noticing what a miserable cliché that is. CWT

German movie-making is at its best. In the last 8-10 years a new generation of super-talented writer-directors and actors have emerged from the Harz mountains and Bavaria and took the world by storm. It all began with Tom Tykwer and his infamous Run, Lola, Run which showed the way for many a prodigal self-made movie-maker and put Germany back onto the map of world cinema. What is more, their peculiar take on timeless questions of existence and social awareness opened up a whole new perspective in audiovisual arts. They aspire to bring the viewer closer to understanding the nature of things by sticking to human scales, cutting down on special effects and avoiding false-sounding, pretentious dialogues and proclamations. One could say they are down to earth, although visual fantasy does shine through a good couple of times.

Hans Weingarten's Edukators however, is balancing on the edge of full-blown idealism and the realm of common sense, and finds the perfect solution to let ourselves be seduced by the sensible and sensitive combination of the two.

Jan, Peter and Jule are young souls worn out by the controversies of modern-day life. They try to play the role of the catalyst in a society which is only driven by money and economic interests: they break and enter rich people's homes to make them feel uncomfortable with all their excessive valuables. But one day - amid rather unwanted circumstances - comes the inevitable question the three have to ask themselves: Is what they do not as selfish as rich folks' habits to collect antique furniture or vintage cars?

Edukators is an exciting piece, dealing with the exact same existential problems most of us have to deal with. Although shot with digital technique it remains enjoyable to watch. The filming locations were picked with an utterly good sense - not many times do you get to see the wonderful glacier lakes hidden in the Austrian Alps -, while cinematography is pure and unpretentious. It is all capped by the warm emotions the three young adults bring to the screen, and a captivating soundtrack. Superb.

If you thought German films were an acquired taste, go see this one. Great feel-good movie for a quit night. It will not disappoint.