Heiners Filmseiten – Mr Bachmann and His Class (en)

Mr Bachmann and His Class

(Herr Bachmann und seine Klasse)

Spain title: El profesor Bachmann y su clase
Greek title: Ο κ. Bachmann και η τάξη του
Russian title: Господин Бахман и его класс
Original title: Herr Bachmann und seine Klasse

Documentary – Germany
Production year: 2020
Movie length: 217 minutes

Director: Maria Speth
Writer: Maria Speth, Reinhold Vorschneider
Cinematograph: Reinhold Vorschneider

Movie description:

In a German city with a complex history of both excluding and integrating foreigners, a charismatic teacher provides his pupils, who all come from different countries originally, with the key to feeling at home in Germany and becoming citizens of the world.

Mr. Bachmann and his pupils (aged between 12 and 14) live in Stadtallendorf, formerly the site of a secret Second World War munitions factory and now an industrial town that’s home to generations of economic migrants. The class is representative of this history, with several recent arrivals still struggling with the language of their new home. All the while, their sexagenarian, rock band T-shirt wearing teacher’s effortlessly egalitarian approach encourages students to develop empathy for one another through openness and listening.
Shot over six months, Reinhold Vorschneider’s patient cinematography works with the spontaneity of the classroom environment to lend emotional weight to even the most fleeting moments. The pacing and observational method call to mind the work of Frederick Wiseman, yet Speth’s intimate approach creates an engaging and tender drama.

Trailer/Videos