German subscription cinema and literature

The dolanguages resources are a systematic approach to teaching literature/cinema through the target language in class.  They consist of * full page by page vocabulary (lit only) * detailed gapped summary (8 pages average)* searching questions* contextualised grammar for enrichment and analysis* essay preparation tools with sample plan and essay* links to the best external resources.  They will save you much preparation time and enhance the learning experience.

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13. Das Wunder von Bern

das wunder von bern

Reasons to study this work
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This is an excellent film to study on several levels.  The dolanguages.coom resources are designed to help build excellent knowledge of the narrative and to provide plenty of grammatical exemplification at the same time as reinforcing familiarity with the characters and plot.  This would be a very good film to use to encourage year 11 students to study A level, particularly boys.

The interest of the work
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This marvellous film was made 50 years after the central event, Germany's victory in the 1954 world cup finals which took place in Bern, Switzerland. The social developments of the time play an equally large part in the narrative as Peter Lubanski the father of the family returns to Essen after 11 years of imprisonment in Russia.  

The film opens with a group of friends including the main protagonist Mattes, waiting for the results of their favourite team Rot-Weiss Essen's latest match by pigeon post.  Subsequent results including the world cup matches themselves are delivered by a full range of communicational methods to Mattes whether it be through the radio or reenacted by the friends as they play football in the street.    

The Heimkehrer Peter finds it incredibly difficult to identify with the world he finds on his return and most of the drama in the film derives from his clashes with his own family as he struggles to regain his confidence.   The inevitable reconciliation is thoughtfully and beautifully constructed resulting in the ultimate feelgood factor film.  

At the same time as being an excellent drama, one is also immersed in the period of reconstruction as the Wirtschaftswunder starts to kick off;  one realizes suddenly that Adi Dassler who is showing Herberger, the national team manager his latest design for screw-in studs is the founder of Adidas, part and parcel of German's economic success story.

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Das Wunder von Bern