woopak_the_thrill answered:
October 09, 2010
Sorry I am late for this question. Things have been real hectic on my end. Anyway, I don't think it was any one or single group of persons responsible for the mysterious incidents in the film. I do think that some adults were responsible for some of the odd occurences (such as the woman who went to report to the police), the trap in the barn, and others. I do think that the kids were responsible for some of the incidents that involved the other children--but it wasn't so simple. The community itself was guilty.
I think Haneke meant the answer to be a little more intangible; it is the matter of considering the lifestyle in that small estate that in the end provoked a lot of the weird events. I guess Haneke wanted to viewer to see past the easy answer and to allow the viewer to see what blind faith and reliance to tradition can easily mislead and make folks blind to the real truth. The one responsible for all the violent incidents was innocence lost, the designs of tradition and the inepitude of people (denial of the truth and tyrannical values). It is the product of a reaction to suppression.
In direct response to your observations, if that was Haneke's message, it would also explain why the teacher who is the only person in town willing to confront the issues straight-on has no secrets of his own and is at no point afflicted by some bizarre tragedy.
The Philippines is the same way--no divorce and yet couples are cheating on each other. (they have annulment). They see contraceptives as immoral, yet, couples have sex and have abortion later. At least some Asian countries are under communism, but the Philippines is supposed to be democratic but yet the Catholic church has such social/political clout that it is embarrassing. Oh, well, the citizens still do what they want LOL!