History,Thriller,Drama
Germany,France
Young Törless is a 1966 film directed by Volker Schlöndorff. It is based on the novel The Confusions of Young Törless by Robert Musil. The film explores the experiences of a group of students at a boys' boarding school in Austria in the early 1900s.
The protagonist, Törless, is a shy and intelligent student who observes the sadistic behavior of his fellow classmates towards a weaker and vulnerable student named Basini. At first, Törless is indifferent to the bullying behavior and only watches from a distance, but as the bullying intensifies and takes on sexual overtones, Törless is drawn into the group's activities.
As the story progresses, Törless becomes increasingly fascinated by Basini's suffering and is torn between wanting to help him and participating in the bullying. He confides in his friend, Beineberg, who encourages him to pursue his sadistic tendencies by participating in the group's sadistic sexual acts against Basini.
The film depicts the psychological and emotional turmoil of the characters as they navigate their way through the complex and disturbing dynamics of group bullying and sexual exploitation. It raises questions about power, hierarchy, and morality, and the destructive nature of group behavior.
Young Törless was a groundbreaking film of the New German Cinema movement and was praised for its bold exploration of taboo subjects. It won the International Critics' Prize at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival and is considered one of the most significant films of the movement.
