Le Voyageur Noir

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.

This movie has everything I expect in a short. Swiftness, beautiful cinematography, good subject matter, great characters, totally surprise and feel-good ending. One of the surprises is that I only found out what the subject was half way into the film. It's well worth seeing.

So people are falling all over themselves saying how great this little film is. Really? Because the best way to eradicate racism is to act in ways which confirm racist stereotypes?

Needless to say, I disagree with the praise heaped on this short work, which I frankly found rather petty. The old lady probably has tons of issues, but even if you want to categorically denounce her as a racist, how does the Schwarzfahrer's behavior do anything to help improve the situation of other black persons? Answer: it does not. (Just like virtue signaling, which accomplishes nothing beyond allowing the person emoting to feel smugly superior to those whom they denounce.)

So the guy gets a short-term feeling of revenge. Big deal. It helps no one. Why? Because the lady will just regale all of her racist friends with the tale of how one of these horrible immigrants did her wrong. And she will not be telling a lie. Then they will all take this sort of anecdote and run with it, embellishing and perpetuating all of the racial stereotypes which they have long held. They all have their stories. This is how to start one, not to eradicate racism.

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.

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.