The Experiment

Synopsis

Within the framework of a behavioral study, twenty men are selected for an experiment. Eights of them are seen allotted the function of prison warders and twelve that of prisoners. The prisoners see themselves allotting numbers which will replace their name during the experiment. Nobody can, in the prison, to call a prisoner by his name, the prisoners must speak himself with their numbers. During two weeks, the experimenters study the behaviors using safety video cameras.

In a few hours, the “guards” start to take their role too much with serious, in particular Berus (Justus von Dohnanyi), become sadistic, and the prisoners feel taken with the trap. One of them is a little rebellious. Its name is Tarek Fahd (Moritz Bleibtreu) and it has a reason to act like it does it: it must carry out a report for a large newspaper. Another is colonel in the air force (Christian Berkel), a man calms and cold which tries to observe what occurs.

Even if violence is prohibited in this fictitious prison, the guards are not long in subjecting the prisoners, more particularly " 77" , Tarek Fahd, the troublemaker, always in tension with Berus with severe brimades.

As of the second day, the experiment completely escapes the experimenters by the revolt from the prisoners and brutal repression from the guards, carried out by Berus.

A guard will be even last with tobacco and imprisoned by his colleagues after having wanted to help Tarek to communicate with outside.

The Experiment will skid completely at the time of the departure of Doctor Thon by the imprisonment of the assistants and the total bulk-heading of the guards.

Distribution

Moritz Bleibtreu
Christian Berkel
Olivier Stokowski
Andrea Sawatzki
Edgar Selge
Maren Eggert

See too

summarized + critical
Card IMDb
the German site of the film
a criticism

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