SeriesGerman films
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Chapter "The silent classroom": didactic film material
One minute of silence - what begins as a spontaneous show of solidarity by a few students in the fledgling GDR soon attracts the attention of government leaders.
Characteristics
Language level
Target group
Skill
Description
What begins as a spontaneous show of solidarity by a few students in the fledgling GDR soon attracts the attention of government leaders. In 1956, the people of East Germany live relatively isolated from the West. But the Iron Curtain is still ajar - wide enough for the teenagers Kurt and Theo to make excursions into the promised land. But the Iron Curtain is drawn and when an uprising in Hungary is brutally put down, the two boys decide to join their high school class to observe a minute of silence for those killed. The school administration reacts harshly to the action - criticism of the system is not tolerated - and puts the students under pressure: either they name one of those responsible or the entire class is expelled from high school. The film is based on a true story.
Themes: GDR, friendship, youth, home, protest, political commitment, German history, freedom, drama.
Trailer
Learning Objectives
Learners can:
Themes: GDR, friendship, youth, home, protest, political commitment, German history, freedom, drama.
Trailer
Learning Objectives
Learners can:
- associate ideas about the title and the film poster
- complete the content in a cloze exercise
- research historical background
- describe important film characters and talk about their actions
- present pro and con arguments in a debate
Downloads
Local content
The film can be ordered from the Goethe-Institut Irland. Please send your order by e-mail at german-dublin@goethe.de
Locations
Local content
The film is available on Filmstriben, the streaming platform of the Danish public libraries.
Locations
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