Das Schweigende Klassenzimmer (4½ Stars)

I wasn't properly prepared for this film. I didn't realise it was a true story until the end when photos were shown of the real life characters on whom the film was based. To put it more exactly, the film is based on a book written by Dietrich Garstka, one of the children in the school class. It's possible that several of the children are still alive today, so it would be interesting to hear their opinion about the film.

The film's title means literally "The Silent Classroom", but its English name is "The Silent Revolution". It takes place in 1956 in Stalinstadt, East Germany. Two boys from the 12th class of a grammar school (the last class before school graduation) travel to West Berlin to go to the cinema. It was easier to travel then, because the Berlin Wall wasn't built until 1961. While there they see news reports about the Hungarian Uprising against the Russian occupation. Russia sent in its army, using tanks and soldiers to kill unarmed civilian protesters. Thousands of people were killed, mostly in the capital, Budapest.

Back in Stalinstadt, the boys persuade their fellow students to hold a two minute silence at the beginning of the school day. The teachers are confused and don't know what to do. The fairly moderate headmaster tries to keep the protest secret, but the history teacher, who was present for the protest, tells others about it. Soon members of the Secret Service (Stasi) arrive in the school, followed by a senior government minister. As if this weren't enough, secrets come out that the parents have been hiding from their children for years.

This is a tale of grim terror. It's hard to believe what Germans had to endure during the Russian occupation. Russian soldiers abused their power, beating up anyone who spoke out against them. It's painfully apparent how the German Stasi copied its style from the Gestapo. Despite the claims of being a free socialist state, East Germany had all the characteristics of a Fascist dictatorship. All other opinions were shouted down and suppressed.