The White Ribbon is a arduously slow-paced film that pays off with a very profound and controversial message that I personally found ultimately satisfying. But with such a long journey leading to the resolution, it is a very hard sell.

The film follows the events of a small Austrian village on the brink of World War I. A series of events unfold in which many people are injured and property is vandalized. The town tries somewhat apathetically to deal with the problem while also dealing with raising their children, something most of them consider a burden.

This isn’t the most trying film I’ve seen (let alone in a foreign language), but at almost three hours and completely subtitled it’s really not something that a lot of people could deal with. But for somebody like me who loves film and appreciates great filmmaking, this is definitely something to behold. There are dozens of cast members and every single one of them works together to create a very believable and at times terrifying setting. There are plenty of long, ponderous shots capturing all of the tension and emotion of the characters, even when they’re not on screen. The final few moments of the film are worth a viewing on their own.

But again, this is a very slow film. If you do not enjoy extended scenes of people talking or you just hate reading your movies than I would suggest staying away at all costs. As far as I know there isn’t a dubbed version and frankly I’m not even sure that would be a good idea. But I found what they were saying to be interesting and the way it all works out in the end is really great. So really, you be the judge on this one.