Klass

Wow.. I have to say I am still stunned after what I just saw, couldn't stop myself from writing a review instantaneously. Story is that a guy named Joosep is constantly bullied by the whole class, and when another boy, Kaspar, tries to stop other kids in the class from bullying Joosep, the other kids starts bullying both Joosep and Kaspar.

At one point of time, it becomes so much that both of them takes the most extreme step. We might just say that, Joosep could have done something different, but really he didn't have any option. When the entire world is against you, you can't do anything else. One astonishing thing that I saw was role of the teachers in this flick. I know that most of the teachers, elders are like that. They are so much into their own s#it, that they really don't care. Teachers have really good idea, but they don't do anything.

When you are actually watching movie, you actually waiting for Andres, Paul and other accomplices to be punished. This is indeed one of the most horrifying films I've ever seen, horror in the face of harsh reality.

And, as Kaspar said you have to stand up for yourself. As, IT IS ABOUT HONOUR.

Klass (2007) ****

Although sadly school violence has become all too common place in recent years, very few films have dared to examine it. Gus Van Sant did it thoughtfully and patiently in his Tarr inspired Elephant, which took home the Palm D'Or at Cannes when it debuted. That film dealt with the daily routines of a number of high school students on the day of the shooting. Conversely, Ilmar Raag's Klass details the weeks leading up to its sad climax, dissecting just how such an event can happen.

One day, after being chided by his girlfriend, Kaspar (Vallo Kirs) for helping pick on Joosep (Part Uusberg), he begins to change his ways, and sympathize with the boy. This causes his friends - the bullies - to turn on him, and soon both are the victims. Their daily routine consists of Kaspar trying to protect Joosep, and trying to stop their beatings. After weeks of torture, and a fateful trick used to assemble the two into a trap on a beach one day changes everything for everyone.

Director Raag uses a frenetic editing pace in many segments. Some scenes are masterfully created with cutaways timed nicely, while at other times the editing is too busy, trying to be too flashy. That can be a distraction, and I think takes away from the film. Raag also mixes up his soundtrack, at times using pounding techno music, sometimes working, good sometimes not. On the other hand, Raag also employs a few beautiful orchestral pieces, sparsely. Although I would have liked to see them used more throughout the film, when they do occasionally play I admit it does seem to make what's on screen just that much more poignant. Raag also uses some ambient strings here and there, usually playing one booming note at a time, which i thought was interesting. He seems to have a keen sense for tonally offbeat direction, which I like. If he can tone down his want of flash (which I do not really like), I think he has some serious potential.

Although i would have preferred Klass to be a quieter picture, I still think this is a very very strong film. It is unquestionably a modern film, dealing with somewhat modern issues. Some certainly will - and have - call into question some of the plausibility of the film. For example, teacher's rarely seem to be present. My answer to their quarrel would be that such realist logic need not apply here. Whereas Van Sant's Elephant was shot as documentary, Klass is shot as parable. It's about why otherwise good kids can to unthinkable things. Typically, these kids are no more evil than those who pushed them over the edge to begin with. Klass does something that is not uncommon in pictures, by making its villains worthy scum. Given that this is about a school shooting, that is actually quite a bold move. Raag makes his bullies despicable, putting the audience in the uncomfortable position of wanting to see them punished, and handily. It's all about empathy.

Even teacher's have a hand in such cruelty. Klass includes a couple moments of subtle hostility by one teacher, as Joosep expresses the vanity of individuals defining themselves by label. This is a not so direct theme throughout the film in fact. The teenagers, of course, are covered in head to toe with their brand name clothes, and chide Joosep for not wearing such clothes, yet harass him for wearing brand name sneakers - shoes fit for someone cooler than he.

This is a very strong film from Raag. It is well acted by its leads. It contains flashes of greatness. The film works best when it sticks to its story. Raag gets carried away with his direction at times, but despite it the film still works very well. It is a thoughtful film. It can be painfully cruel, but such subject matter deserves cruelty. When Kaspar and Joosep make that fateful walk into the school, their expressions are not of anger, but of profound sadness, which I suspect is what most must be truly feeling. I found the last few moments of this film dreadfully sad. When the shots are silenced, the heavy presence of inevitability sets in with the contemplation of all which has just happened. Such weight should be felt on all our shoulders. We've all been bullied, bullies, or the conscientious middle man at some point in our lives. Klass is one Estonian export that classrooms all over the world could benefit from.

First of all I didn't have any high expectations for this one. OK school violence - we all have seen that, right? But do we actually remember it? How there always has been black sheep in any class room? How mean can we all be? For me this movie was the awakening who am I also have been and how embarrassing it now seems. But how many of us were brave enough to differ and step-up against this kind of unfairness. And do we had a choice/ or knowledge that the choice exist? This movie is highly recommended because of its honesty, bluntness and most of all - just incredible storyline...

Vote: no question 10/10

Its been a while since I saw a movie that left my guts so unsettled. I have seen several graphic movies about rape, terrorism, cruelty, hatred. Some of them have managed to touch my soul and move me to tears. But none of them prepared me for this movie. The only movie that probably came close to making me feel so horrible was Chandi Bar. This movie will leave you with a lot of anger and hatred.

We have seen the horror of gun possession with minors in movies like Elephant and American History X. But this movie goes beyond irresponsible and erratic use of a gun. This movie projects basic human feelings and the results of mob mentality and repressiveness anger. Most viewers can relate to this movie because they have all experienced school violence, either first hand or otherwise.

About the movie itself, the direction, cinematography and acting are all A-grade. You always feel at the center of each and every scene. This is what the movie does best. It involves you. And when you are done watching it, it will make you think about it and discuss it. It'll make you think of what's wrong with our education system and what can be done to prevent something like this from happening.

It kinda falls into the category of movies which make you lose faith in humanity. Don't get me wrong. We are capable of kindness too. But it is equally true that we humans can be very cruel and we should not ignore this facet of our basic instinct. There are many interventions that could've prevented the ending that the movie projected. But the reason the movie hit me so hard is coz' of the way it ended.

I would definitely recommend this movie to all those movie buffs who aren't afraid of watching movies with serious subjects. Stay away from it immediately before sleep time. This film will leave you so unsettled; you may not be able to sleep for next couple of hours.

As for me, I wonder if I'll ever gather my guts to see this great film again.

I think it was one of the most appealing plot I have ever seen. It's in my native language so, it is pretty easy to understand and pretty hard to watch. It is a difficult movie about Kaspar and Joosep who are being teased and harassed at school. I was harassed a little too during my school years and i feel total sympathy for the two main characters.

I really loved the camera work, I have always loved Estonian camera work and the editing. Raw, tragic and lifelike. Ilmar Raag has done a great job by showing what is going on in schools nowadays. It's not only in Estonia, USA, or England for that matter, it's going on all around the world - school violence.

I don't want to spoil the ending, but it was pretty predictable and the plot is easy to catch, nevertheless it is a movie that is not easy on you. If you have been a situation familiar to this, not so radical even, you know what Kaspar and Joosep felt.

And as Kaspar said, It's about pride.

9,3/10 :)