Berlinale: Ruth Beckermann’s “Favorites”: It’s better to experience great adventures

Majeda turns to her classmates who are chatting with each other in the classroom behind her. »Can you speak German instead of Turkish? “You’re not allowed to do that,” she warns the others. That’s easier said than done. Because for most of the second graders, German is not their first language. When their teacher takes their turn, some chatter away cheerfully, others search carefully and concentratedly for German words.

Director Ruth Beckermann and her team accompanied a primary school class in Vienna for two and a half years. »Favoriten«, named after Vienna’s 10th district, takes a warm-hearted and close look at school and many of the topics related to it. The film can be seen in the Encounters section of the Berlinale. In this section, the director was awarded the prize for best film in 2022 with her film “Mutzenbacher”.

The focus of her current film is 25 children and their teacher Ilkay Idiskut, who imparts knowledge with passion, humor but also rigor, encourages children to learn, settles disputes and laughs and dances with them. The students try to work with great seriousness. They talk about where they go on vacation in the summer and what their parents do for a living. One father works on a construction site, another in a pizzeria, a third at a parcel delivery service. Many mothers are at home and do care work. Ilkay Idiskut tells the children that this is also work. She repeatedly gets involved when it comes to images of men and women, values ​​and body norms. She discusses with the children whether girls should be allowed to wear bare midriffs. No one tells her what she should wear, she says.

At another point in the film, students talk about what they want to do later in their careers. “Policewoman” or “firefighter,” some say. One was painted by a scientist wearing a dirty lab coat. “She did an experiment that exploded,” the girl reports, laughing. She doesn’t want to have a husband or children, says another. Better to experience adventure.

It becomes clear that school is a space that gives students new perspectives. It is a space of community, of trying things out, but also of permanent challenges. With almost inexhaustible energy, Ilkay Idiskut explains math to the children and teaches them German words. Because a lot depends on it. Behind the film’s cheerful mood, the realization repeatedly flashes like a reminder: what opportunities the children will have later in life has a lot to do with how they perform here. The committed teacher is forced to represent a system that constantly evaluates and sorts out children.

In addition to exuberant moments in which the students fool around and dance, in which a great closeness between teacher and children can be felt, there are also those in which the pressure becomes apparent. Students cry because the grade on their classwork is not as good as expected. Helplessness is evident in parents who do not understand why their child does not get into high school.

“Favoriten” also sheds light on profound problems such as the shortage of teachers and social workers. On the one hand, there are difficulties and challenges in the school system. At the same time, the film is a refreshing counterpoint to reports about schools in which multilingual children appear primarily as a problem.

Ruth Beckermann approaches her subject carefully and warmly by focusing on the children, their worries and dreams. It gives insights into a part of society that everyone thinks they know somehow, but which no one apart from the teaching staff and students penetrates in this way. It’s amazing how freely the children move in front of the camera. They show their insecurities, talk about dreams, but also get the opportunity to show what they bring to the table. “I speak Chechen, Russian, a little English and German,” says one student. “Favoriten” becomes a tribute to the commitment of teachers and a warm-hearted portrait of a young generation of students.

»Favoriten«, Germany/Austria 2024. Director and screenplay: Ruth Beckermann. 118 min. Dates: February 25th, 1:30 p.m., Kino International (sold out).