Favoriten is one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in Vienna and the starting point of Ruth Beckermann’s latest documentary, in which she accompanies a class of pupils from the age of seven to ten. Their ambitious teacher, Ilkay, is determined to create an inclusive, supportive and safe environment for the kids. The majority of children don’t speak German at home, some families are wounded by war experience and many face discrimination. Despite few resources from the educational system, Ilkay gently navigates her class through daily adventures, defeats and victories. The result is an astonishingly cheerful portrait of a small community mirroring the complexities of contemporary European society. The film is an ode to childhood, celebrating the work of educators and lifelong learning in and outside the classroom.
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Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
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Cast
1 person
Ruth Beckermann Director · Elisabeth Menasse Writer Johannes Hammel Cinematographer
First release February 16, 2024 · Produced in Austria · Languages Albanian, Arabic, German, Turkish
Production
OFI
Production
ORF
Production
Ruth Beckermann Filmproduktion
Production
Austria
Produced in
Die Kinder von Wien
Working title
Languages
Original language
German
Spoken on screen
Albanian · Arabic · German · Turkish
Release dates
Germany · February 16, 2024
Premiere · Berlin International Film Festival
Austria · September 19, 2024
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Czechia
June 28, 2024 · Premiere · Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
November 28, 2024 · Theatrical
Germany
September 19, 2024 · Theatrical
Hong Kong SAR China
April 5, 2024 · Premiere · Hong Kong International Film Festival
Indonesia
October 27, 2024 · Premiere · Jakarta Film Week
Netherlands
February 20, 2025 · Theatrical
Poland
July 11, 2025 · Limited theatrical
South Korea
May 2, 2024 · Premiere · Jeonju International Film Festival
Spain
May 9, 2025 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
December 6, 2024 · Limited theatrical
More from Ruth Beckermann
Other films they directed, best known first.
Some details come from TheTVDB.