Hör ich auf getreu zu sein

The film accompanies three of the 148 children, chosen half a century ago to take part in a study programme in East Germany for the good of the Vietnamese people. A heart-wrenching reunion with a former teacher leads to various reflections: on a country reunited by war (Vietnam), as well as one which managed to reunite without a single shot being fired (German); on Lenin, who remains a revered figure to the present day in socialist Vietnam; as well as on the Germans who made this educational progress possible. Despite the latter achievement the teachers behind it found themselves out of favour after reunification, with the lack of respect they faced generating a sense of frustration.

This is more than a reflection on history however, touching as it does on present-day Germany with its references to intercultural encounters in the GDR and keen sense for the unresolved issues and dissatisfaction that simmer under the surface, today manipulated for anti-democratic ends by dexterous populists. BB