The Edukators is a sociological thriller about three young
anti-capitalists who get in way over their heads after a botched break-in.
Peter (Stipe Erceg) and Jan (Daniel Brühl) are a pair of idealistic young
wannabe revolutionaries, living in near squalor in the centre of Berlin. In the evenings
they scope out large houses in the suburbs which they break into. Rather than
stealing what they find inside, the pair instead moves the furniture and
expensive consumer items around, messing with the minds of the rich inhabitants
and leaving a note saying something along the lines of “Your days of plenty are
coming to an end”. They call themselves ‘The Edukators’. With Peter in Barcelona, Jan becomes
friendlier with Peter’s girlfriend Jule (Julia Jentsch) after the pair had
previously been rather standoffish with each other. Jule explains how her life
is being ruined by a debt owed to a rich man following a car crash and Jan
decides to do something about it, bringing Jule into ‘The Edukators’ without Peter’s
knowledge.
The Edukators is a fascinating thriller which bought out the old
Commie in me. I was on the group’s side, finding myself nodding along to their
rants about consumerism and third world debt while I sat on my leather sofa,
watching my flat screen TV. The film bought out something in me which I’ve lost
in recent years, my youthful anger at the world. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still
angry but these days my anger is focussed at religion and stupidity rather than
poverty and injustice. This movie bought that back.
