Schwarzfahrer

i didn't know what to expect as i watched this short german film. i'd never read or heard anything about it, knowing only that it would be about racism. let me say that you will not get what you might expect.

i don't want to ruin the beauty of this film so i'll leave out any details and merely say that i thought of the ending about 10 times between the movie's conclusion and my bed-time, and that each time i did so, a huge smile crossed my face, accompanied by a chuckle. watch it.

It is not so often that a film is made which incites viewers to fight against racism. This is due to the fact that most films about racism tend to be overtly soft in their outlook as they make it a point to avoid unnecessary controversies. At this point it needs to be told that it is a relief that German director Didi Danquart's Oscar winning short film "Schwarzfahrer" (Black Rider) decides to tackle racism head-on. By opting for a full scale frontal confrontation, this film manages to ruffle many feathers as it shows how racist can a person get in a public situation. It is not only the issue of racism which is bothersome and ironical but what bothers the most is the apathy of other people who choose to ignore it as if they would never be affected by the scourge of racism. From a linguistic/philosophical point of view, Schwarzfahrer has a lot of hidden meanings too as it features a black man in a situation involving the color 'black' (Schwarz) and 'travelling' (Fahren) as the German language term 'Schwarzfahren' denotes usage of services without paying for them. A layman might be in the wrong to interpret it as a film about a black person enjoying a free ride on public transport in Germany. However, it is only an intellectually challenged viewer who would make that move as the film concerns a batty old white woman's racist blabber against a trendy, taciturn, young, black man who has the last laugh on her. It is being said that it just takes a single, strong, powerful blow to counter hundreds of small barbs. This is exactly what happens in this film. Lastly, Schwarzfahrer is the ideal film for those who want their meaningful cinema to do something to change other people's lives.

After watching a few short films made by university students and some Oscar winning shorts, I have observed that the films that win acclaim mostly fix its entire scope on a singular event and generally elevate the movie to a level where one presumes he or she has guessed the ending only to be deceived with a climax that is highly unexpected yet totally believable and (forgive me for using this word but I still have the teenager in me) awesome!

When a black man is humiliated on a train for an extended period of time by an elderly woman and there is a supporting focus on a third character, we always tend to assume the third character comes to focus in the end. I had a feeling that the guy would suddenly face the woman and ask her to control herself. Or say the child sitting opposite would kick the lady. Or if the director goes for a Scary Movie ending, then all the passengers would get up and stab that hag to death. But the ending will be a surprise no one would have guessed.

The thing that fetched it the Oscar, apart from its plot, is the irony in the title. Not many movies have so cleverly named their film.

My Rating: 8 out of 10

The label "fare dodger" would be an undeserved kindness with this senior citizen, her with her atrocious thoughts on the crowded bus, saying them out loud like an unsolicited salesperson, except far more deplorable.

It was not unwatchable; the climax no doubt garners some relieved sighs, consorting chuckles , and maybe even a few righteous cheers. But it was discomfiting and disrespectful. Racism is fine as a theme to examine, but as far as entertainment and viewing experience goes, if one decides to be explicitly offensive, make it worth it. The balance in this short film was uneven, something that felt like 90 percent vulgarity and racial slurs, ignorance on full display with little interaction (bystander effect, anyone?), with less than a minute to feel the satisfying revenge.

Some audiences might be less effected and therefore more tolerant of the repeated, unchecked discriminative and racist comments turned monologue from this ignorant and insolent old lady, but others will no doubt agree that is was not worth the wait.

Pepe Danquart's Oscar-winning "Schwarzfahrer" is a look not only at racism, but at its subtlety. The old woman who rants against immigrants is odious enough, but more important is that no one challenges her. To be certain, her rant sounds like what we still hear from these losers, or from politicians looking to score votes. I immediately saw a link between the old woman's "blacks carry AIDS" and Donald Trump's "Mexicans bring drugs".

It would be easy to say that due to Germany's history, it has no choice but to make movies like this. In reality this should apply to every country. Racism exists everywhere. And as Billy Bragg said, racism must always get challenged. After all, no one is born racist.

Definitely see the movie.