Freedom and Responsibility -
Schools in Leipzig on the move 1989

The movie shows the dawn of democracy in the perspective of parents, teachers and the “Initiative free pedagogy”, that especially demanded “freedom for all schools” back then. Everywhere in the GDR schools were on the move and searching for alternatives. Headmasters were dismissed and new ones in ballots elected. Parents interfered in the organisation of lessons and demanded new text books. Subjects like civics or military education were abolished. Ten independent school agencies began their lesson already in the summer of 1990. Never before or after existed as much movement in the school system as in those days. The central theme of the movie is the question, what happened to those audacious reform ideas after 20 years and how do former protagonists evaluate the development. But it also takes a look at the view of pupils today.

The movie was financed by the support programme of the federal state government of Saxony “Peaceful revolution and German Unity” and by the city of Leipzig.
Project management: Cornelia Müller
Camera / Screen Play / Cut: Uwe Willmann and Gunther Fischer

For peace and socialism be ready – always ready!

The filmed lesson “local history and geography 1985” illustrates, for those who just know the GDR from movies like “Good bye Lenin”, a picture of a system that divided into good and evil and in which everybody could become “a prisoner” of that system within minutes. Most of the pupils act as cowards in the role-play and indifferent to the ostracism of the non-pioneer. They waste the opportunity of resistance although they have been emphatically asked and the experiment does not have a negative influence on their lives.

The project was financed by the Stiftung Demokratische Jugend (“Zeitensprünge”).
Project management: Elke Urban
The actors are pupils of the Evangelical School Centre Leipzig.
Camera: Gunter Fischer, Cut: Uwe Willmann

Shared memories
Young days in Leipzig under the Swastika. Pupils ask – contemporary witnesses tell.

In June 2006 a special history book of Leipzig was presented to the public. Inspired by oral history interviews from the film archive of the school museum, 25 young people from Leipzig corresponded with former jewish and non-jewish citizen of Leipzig who live today in Israel, Canada, USA, Great Britain and Switzerland to ask for their memories on childhood and youth in their hometown. Upsetting events as well as nice memories can be read in the illustrated book.

The project was financed by the Federal administration support programme CIVITAS.
Year of publication: 2006

“Children in uniform” – Generations under discussion about childhood and youth in two German dictatorships

The two generations that are interviewed in the book, are parents and grand-parents of todays adolescent. In former times, they were Pimpfen, Hitler-boys and Jungmädel in National Socialism or members of the pioneers or the Free German Youth in Socialism. Their memories give an insight into the everyday life of the contemporary witnesses, they tell stories about “duties”, group afternoons and flag ceremonies. The interviewees raise with their stories new questions. Is it possible to compare those youth organisations? 

Year of publication: 2008

Learning for the Fuehrer?

The feature film shows in small episodes the difficulties of children in the 1930s to resist the enthusiasm for National Socialism. They were skilfully influenced by their teachers and even in lesson they learned to march. A segregated jewish girl experiences compassion of her headmaster. A teacher was arrested by the Gestapo because she distributed leaflets. None of the stories are made up.

The project was financed by the Stiftung Demokratische Jugend (“Zeitensprünge”).
Project management: Elke Urban
The actors are pupils of the Evangelical School Centre Leipzig.
Camera: Gunter Fischer, Cut: Uwe Willmann