Chapter "Das fliegende Klassenzimmer" - Commentaire de Pierre Eisenreich

114 min, age recommendation: suitable for all, 2002* 

Jonathan (12) is sent to the Thomaner boarding school in Leipzig by his adoptive father. It appears to be his last chance after being dismissed from six different schools before.

He quickly makes new friends in the boarding school. His roommates show him their secret hideout: an abandoned railway-car. One evening the owner of the railway-car pops up. Bob came back to Leipzig after a long time away. He allows the boys to continue using the railway-car, where they find the manuscript of the theatre play: “The flying classroom”. They decide to stage the play instead of the nativity play, but their chorus leader Justus doesn’t allow it. Soon after, the boys realize that there has to be a link between the ban, Bob and Justus. 

*Many teachers enjoy this film and find lots to talk about with their students in the German classroom. To ensure you are well prepared to use this film in the classroom, we would like to mention that in an early scene, one of the characters appears in blackface when rehearsing a nativity play as one of the three kings. We mention this in advance to ensure teachers can prepare and adapt their teaching of the film accordingly.