The autobiographical Rhineland-Palatinate novel “A Man of His Class” will be shown on television as a film on Wednesday (October 2nd) (8:15 p.m., Das Erste). The author Christian Baron, who grew up in Kaiserslautern, tells us in the book what it meant and means to be poor in Germany. “The film deals with socially critical topics that are still relevant,” said the Worms actor André Eisermann (“Kaspar Hauser»), who can be seen in the role of Grandpa Willy, the German Press Agency.
Social injustices such as poverty, the fight for basic child security and family violence are still widespread, says the 56-year-old. “Little has changed in the past few years.” He hopes the film will help raise awareness of these issues. “And that families who experience similar situations will be addressed by the film and perhaps even stimulated to think,” emphasized Eisermann.
Children in extreme poverty situations
In the film, family man Ottes, an alcoholic furniture mover, repeatedly abuses his wife Mira, who dies after suffering from cancer without ever receiving any support from him. Her son Christian receives a recommendation to go to high school, but his father votes against it and Christian feels insecure in an unfamiliar environment. Only when his mother’s sister took over custody did she campaign for his education and fight against the hurdles of the authorities. This gives Christian a chance for a better future.
“The film shows how people, especially children, live in extreme poverty situations and how they suffer due to violence in the family,” said Eisermann, who grew up in humble circumstances as a child of a showman. He sees the importance of the film in its ability to make social injustices visible and perhaps even to initiate change. “The gap between rich and poor is widening in Germany. Politicians are not doing enough to reverse this trend.”
“Some even cried – including me.”
When the family refuses any food donations out of pride, the main character and author Baron eats the mold from the wall. “But the film is not only tragic, it also has humorous moments,” said Eisermann, who became internationally known with the award-winning literary adaptations “Kaspar Hauser” (1993) and “Schlafes Bruder” (1995).
At previews, many viewers were deeply touched, he said. “Some even cried – including me, although I usually view my films critically.” Immediately after the performance in Baron’s hometown Kaiserslautern He met the deeply moved author at the door of the performance room, who, like him, needed to take a quick breath. “A lot of emotions had obviously built up,” said Eisermann. «For years, maybe even longer. Suddenly we both had tears flowing.”
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The autobiographical Rhineland-Palatinate novel “A Man of His Class” will be shown on television as a film on Wednesday (October 2nd) (8:15 p.m., Das Erste). The author Christian Baron, who grew up in Kaiserslautern, tells us in the book what it meant and means to be poor in Germany. “The film deals with socially critical topics that are still relevant,” said the Worms actor André Eisermann (“Kaspar Hauser»), who can be seen in the role of Grandpa Willy, the German Press Agency.
Social injustices such as poverty, the fight for basic child security and family violence are still widespread, says the 56-year-old. “Little has changed in the past few years.” He hopes the film will help raise awareness of these issues. “And that families who experience similar situations will be addressed by the film and perhaps even stimulated to think,” emphasized Eisermann.
