Der ganz große Traum

I've caught this on TV the other day, so I didn't have any expectations. The title seemed interesting enough and I decided to give it a try.

A few things you should know about the movie, first, without spoiling anything. The movie starts slow, so if you're impatient, this isn't for you. It has a good reason to do so, it develops very well most of the characters, as well as the stage. The actors, the set, everything does a great job to transport you back in time to 1870's Germany. Oh, and expect some unreasonable behavior, like body punishment against children, but to a tolerable extent. This was after all, 1870's.

The characters are well developed, the stage is beautifully set. If initially I was just curious about the movie, as the time passed I started to care about the protagonists and I was literally drawn into the action. Drama is not my first choice of movie by far, but this movie impressed me because it touches mostly on the key word: "team play". It's also about fair play, choices, love, children, parenting, freedom of expression, history, as well as a story about (German) football.

I would recommend this to anyone who cares about what is right. 7/10 with a warmly recommendation.

Someone explain to me why a film about an advocate of the British way of life teaching soccer to pre WW1 German school kids should be more plausible and involving that Robin Williams extolling the virtues of poetry to his lot. That doesn't compute but it's a fact.

Handsome costume movie production values. Strong performances and a feeling of connection with wider events battle the film's predictable situation and development.

Brühl gets better every film and could become a major player. The rest are unfamiliar. It will be interesting to see if any of them realise the potential shown here.

Yes, the movie is a kind of German version of Dead Poet' Society. If you like one, you will like the other.

Both movies are about teaching and show the relation young teacher - elder teachers - pupils - parents.

A young teacher has modern ideas and didactical goals that most of his elder colleagues either do not understand or find threatening. It takes some time before the pupils understand what he wants them to learn. Conservative parents do everything to get the teacher dispelled from school.

Because the movies are so similar, the differences between the two societies in which they take place become very clear. Also, the endings differ, but that is less important.

I caught this movie after a hard day of watching football during the 2014 world cup in Brazil. The movie is about the beginnings of the sport in the 1870s Germany or as it was known back then, an empire. Fresh from various military successes against the French and the English, national pride was deeply ingrained. Along comes Konrad Koch, a young German who had spent several years in England. With him he brings a football. He has been hired as an English teacher in the city of Braunschweig. There he encounters resistance to change amongst the snobbish kids and their even snobbier parents. Suffice it to say, the beautiful game paves the way for change.

A charming movie. In a way, reminds me a bit of a more intellectual version of "The Goonies" seems like a stretch but its not. Definitely worth seeing. Goal!!

But going on a tour! I could also have used "For the love of the game", but considering the Euro Finals that just happened .. well no pun intended. You know they are up for a joke or two. Also it was quite the achievement getting into the Finals in and of itself.

But enough of that, more of this. Which is a teacher bringing the game and giving this gift to his pupils. It seems necessary, since they are not convinced they would even need this language (can you imagine a time, where people think English will not be needed by anyone? Well times are changing ... always and forever ... who knows what will be true in a 100 years or more ... other languages may have taken over ... maybe what I write now will not make much sense) ... But thinking about that is moot in a sense.

The movie and its main actor (Daniel Brühl, half German, half Spanish) really has the charisma, gravitas and acting abilities to carry this movie ... or bend it (like Beckham or any other player you may think of). While it is the pupils/students that have issues at first, it is the higher ups that also will not like the teachers methods ... not to mention inner live and anguish (rivalries) ... inside the student group.

So there is enough to keep your attention high (or the ball going?) ... and the movie is fun to watch. Even more so if you like the game I reckon ... though it might introduce you to a new hobby or just liking! And the movie has done its job already by that point. Enjoy.