Die Konferenz

I just saw this on TFO (Télévision française en Ontario) in an excellent French version ("Conseil de discipline"). I was surprised by the similarities of the education system portrayed in this disciplinary hearing of a German high school with what I imagine our local schools to be. All the players were excellent and the teleplay maintained tension and interest all through to the end. This TV film is basically an excellent stage play with one set about nine school officials who must decide whether a male student has raped a female student, that could be played everywhere in the world and touch many different publics. I'm not sure I would have reached the same decision as this group but I can certainly understand everyone's viewpoint in reaching that decision. It is also the first contemporary German film I see that subtly drives home the point that Germans are human beings like the rest of us.