The Edukators

The Edukators
2005 - Germany
Directed By Hans Weingatner



SYNOPSIS

Three anti-capitalist revolutionaries spread their message by breaking into mansions. These so-called "Edukators" don't steal, just rearrange furniture and leave ominous notes to scare the homeowners. Their pastime is ruined when a homeowner comes home in the middle of an operation. They kidnap him and head into the country, unsure of what to do with him.



MY THOUGHTS

Politics and drama collide in an interesting tale of young revolutionaries.

The characters anti-capitalist message doesn't overcrowd the film, though it is always present. It's not so heavy-handed that it would offend people with an opposite viewpoint. It does get a little too preachy near the end, but doesn't go over the line.
It does however cause you to THINK about politics and how you live your life. And that's always a good thing.

The camerawork is all hand-held and can be very jerky at times. I'm guessing this is supposed to reflect the anti-establishment-ness of the characters. It's very raw and low tech as opposed to swooping crane shots and other fancy camerawork you would find in a big money Hollywood film.

The performances are excellent, especially Daniel Bruhl, who also shined this year in Quintin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. The performances were helped greatly by an amazing script. It presented great characters with interesting interpersonal relationships, a plot full of twists and turns, and politics. With all those ingredients, the story never felt complicated and came across very realistic, and moved at a swift pace.

Weaving excellent characters among a gripping story with a political message that makes you think... The Edukators really delivers.