On the eve of World War I, strange accidents in a small Protestant village in Northern Germany involve the children and teenagers of a choir run by the schoolteacher and their families. The abused and suppressed children of the villagers seem to be at the heart of this mystery as these events gradually take on the character of a punishment ritual. Director Michael Haneke says that The White Ribbon is, “about the roots of evil. Whether it’s religious or political terrorism, it’s the same thing.”

Part of Nitehawk’s XX Selects midnite series featuring film selected by XX directors.