DIE KINDER AUS NR. 67 (THE CHILDREN FROM NUMBER 67)

Germany, 1980, 103 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Usch Barthelmess -Weller, Werner Meyer.

The Children of 67 is a powerful German film from 1980. It won the OCIC award at the Berlin film festival that year.

The film takes the audience back into the 1930s, shows a group of children, their parents, society at the time – and the focus on the development of the Hitler Youth, the Nazi indoctrination of the children. It implies the consequences for World War Two, the Holocaust, the atmosphere of reconstruction in post-war Germany.

1. Impact? Audience aimed at: adults, children? German audience? International audience?

2. The production values of the film? The German film industry 1980? The perspective on history? Interpretation of the past?

3. The '30s: Berlin, the city life, homes, streets, school, people? Colour photography? Atmosphere and locations? Authenticity? The score and its comment?

4. The '30s and national socialism: introduction and the flag, uniforms? The Hitler Youth? The build-up to more flags, activity, school, arrests and beatings, the Jews, camps and sport? No explanations all taken for granted? Growing up in this atmosphere and its all pervasion? After school activity?

5. Indoctrination, attitudes being taken for granted and their impact on the children especially, the results for the future, for the soldiers of the future?

6. The presentation of the parents: for, against, those who did not know or understand?

7. The group: flag, playing, the bonds, raising money, hostility, change, the future? The patterns of relationships?

8. Paul and Irwin - together and the symbols and the end? The flag, whistle, work and money? Goals, the ball? Ups and downs? Needs? Family? Affirmation for the future?

9. Irwin and the atmosphere of home: domestic, stances, bath, meal, Lotte? Arrests, grief, beating? Independence? Sherlock Holmes? Disappointments?

10. Paul and leadership, work? The bread rolls, being found out? The others, the line-up? School, uniform?

11. Mirjan and the Jews?

12. Hunger, depression, deliveries, shoe-shines, the festival?

13. A portrait of German society? A re-creation of the '30s and its atmosphere? The leaders and the led and the repercussions? For Europe? The world?