IM PRINZIP FAMILIE

 It is idyllic by the lake in Brandenburg. A fox sneaks across the veranda of the house, a deer stands in a wide field in front of the wind turbines. Colourful leaves, snow-covered fields. The tranquillity of nature serves as a mirror of the childcare workers in this film. Since it seems incredible how calmly and patiently they look after the children in their care; how they engage with them. Despite the outbursts of anger, stubbornness and wild insults. One of the problem children is Kelvin, who was born whilst his mother was fleeing from Africa to Europe. At school he is racially abused and now struggles to communicate with his mother; as he speaks only German, a language she barely knows. Due to his uncontrolled bouts of aggression, he is temporarily committed to a psychiatric clinic. "Often the problem is not the children, but the parents," says Mr. Wagner, one of the carers. He and his colleagues do not aspire to be substitute parents, they do however want to offer the structure and security that a family provides. Because this is what the children, who for various reasons cannot or are not allowed to live with their families, need most. THE FAMILY APPROACH sensitively shows how Kelvin and the others in the residential group co-exist, struggle for love and recognition and search for their place in life. Whether they can achieve their ultimate goal and return home is unfortunately not always in their hands...

Text: Wolfgang Hamdorf

05.11.2024 | 19:30 | Weltspiegel Saal 2 (German original version with English subtitles)

06.11.2024 | 18:30 | Obenkino (German original version with English subtitles)