"The Silent Classroom" is one of the last films by the late Michael Gwisdek. The GDR drama is now celebrating its free TV premiere.
The movie "The Silent Classroom" (2018) was based on a true story and the book of the same name by Dietrich Garstka (1939-2018). The GDR drama by director Lars Kraume (47) premiered at the Berlinale in February 2018, and a few days later it was released in cinemas. In the same year it was awarded the "Peace Prize of German Film – Die Brücke".
Once again, Michael Gwisdek (1942-2020) as a rebellious GDR senior is convincing. It is one of his last films. The multiple award-winning actor from Berlin "died with his family after a short, serious illness", as the relatives announced a day later. He was very much appreciated not only by the fans, but apparently also by his colleagues. "Thank you for your warmth, your humor and your zest for life …", mourned actress Jessica Schwarz (43) on Instagram.
ZDF will show "The Silent Classroom" as a free TV premiere on Tuesday (October 13th) at 8:15 pm.
This is what "The Silent Classroom" is all about
GDR, autumn 1956: Theo (Leonard Scheicher) and Kurt (Tom Gramenz) high school graduates see the "Wochenschau" pictures of the Hungarian uprising when they go to the cinema in West Berlin. Kurt is touched by the young people's desperate struggle for democracy. Back in the GDR, the two of them experience the different reporting in the West and East German media. Over the West radio, which they secretly listen to Edgar (Michael Gwisdek), the gay great-uncle of their classmate and friend Paul (Isaiah Michalski), they learn more and discuss the events with their classmates.
When the RIAS (radio in the American sector) called for a minute's silence for the victims of the uprising, the students were enthusiastic about the idea. But there are also dissenting voices. Erik (Jonas Dassler) in particular follows the GDR's interpretation of the events in Hungary as a counterrevolution. Finally there is a vote – the majority is in favor of the gesture of solidarity. In history class, the whole class is silent for a minute. The subject teacher is outraged and complains to Director Schwarz (Florian Lukas).
Schwarz makes it clear to Theo that you have to come up with an excuse because of the possible consequences. Another vote results in a majority in favor of the excuse. They supposedly wanted to commemorate the Hungarian national football player Ferenc Puskás (1927-2006), who is said to be among the dead in the uprising. But the explanation is not enough for the district party leadership, district school councilor Kessler (Jördis Triebel) takes up the investigation. The class community is put to the test. The pupils are interrogated individually, played off against one another and threatened.
After all, Minister of Education for Education Lange (Burghart Klaußner) himself stands in the classroom and gives an ultimatum …