프로그램 노트

Synopsis

More than 60 percent of all children in Viennese elementary schools do not have German as their first language. At the same time, there is an acute shortage of teachers and tutors. These adverse conditions are the starting point for Favoriten, in which the filmmaker accompanies a Viennese elementary school class over the course of three school years.

Program Note​

Favoriten is often mentioned as “the most dangerous area in Vienna, Austria.” That is because areas that have been greatly influenced by migrants have been stigmatized by conservative media. However, Vienna is already a city of migrants with over 45% of its residents hailing from overseas. Over 60% of the elementary school students residing in Vienna don’t speak German as their first language. The film begins in the second grade class of an elementary school. Almost none of the students are fluent in German. And yet, the number of faculty is severely lacking. How can communication and learning be possible in such a place? Ruth Beckermann records around 3 years of stories created by the migrant children from various nations and their wise teacher Ilkay.  

Beckermann’s camera observes each and every student with detail. The students give presentations in German and become nervous when faced with solving multiplication questions. By learning unfamiliar culture and going through crises with their friends, they learn about communities. Rather than providing one-way knowledge, Ilkay’s classroom helps the students experience cultural clashes and think for themselves. And the film directly reflects the process of such dialogue to allow the students to participate in the film shoot.  

By talking through their own voices and showing what they can see, the children become the true protagonists of the film. By experiencing the most important period in their lives, we can also reflect on our childhood and simultaneously get immersed in their honesty. That’s how the prejudice surrounding the proper noun “Favoriten” will be changed by the general term “Favoriten” which means “favorite people.” (KANG Sojung)​