Freistatt
is a German foreign language film that focuses on a
young teenage boy in the year 1968 who is sent to a school for troubled boys at
the insistence of his step-father.
The film, which focuses on it’s main character Wolfgang, touches on many concerning issues surrounding the operation of many institutional schools in the 60’s and 70’s.
Highlighting the culture at these schools and the perverse relationships many of these boys had with their parents, superiors and peers.
Freistatt may seem familiar to some of you as it draws similar comparisons to Ondskan, a Swedish film I’ve talked about before set at a Swedish all boy’s institution.
The film, which focuses on it’s main character Wolfgang, touches on many concerning issues surrounding the operation of many institutional schools in the 60’s and 70’s.
Highlighting the culture at these schools and the perverse relationships many of these boys had with their parents, superiors and peers.
Freistatt may seem familiar to some of you as it draws similar comparisons to Ondskan, a Swedish film I’ve talked about before set at a Swedish all boy’s institution.
Synopsis
Freistatt
follows the life of Wolfgang over the course of his life
at home and at a Christian educational institution in Freistatt, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Wolfgang’s life at home is like many other teenagers at the time. He lives a normal life, has friends and likes to fix motorcycles.
However, his step-father is the main issue in his life. Wolfgang has a intimate relationship with his mother and the step-father sees him as a direct threat to him.
The two come to butt heads frequently. As a result his step-father sends him to a rural education center, far away from his family and friends. His mother promises he will be home by Christmas.
But when he arrives to the school everything changes.
The school he has been sent to is a maleficent and dark place. He quickly learns that the school is run by a tyrannical housefather who cruelly works the boys like slaves.
The boys take part in arduous manual labour everyday and are treated worse than criminals.
The remainder of the film follows Wolfgang as he struggles to survive through days of mistreatment as he vows to fight the rules of the institution. All while he desperately clings to the idea of returning to his mother and his old life.
Wolfgang’s life at home is like many other teenagers at the time. He lives a normal life, has friends and likes to fix motorcycles.
However, his step-father is the main issue in his life. Wolfgang has a intimate relationship with his mother and the step-father sees him as a direct threat to him.
The two come to butt heads frequently. As a result his step-father sends him to a rural education center, far away from his family and friends. His mother promises he will be home by Christmas.
But when he arrives to the school everything changes.
The school he has been sent to is a maleficent and dark place. He quickly learns that the school is run by a tyrannical housefather who cruelly works the boys like slaves.
The boys take part in arduous manual labour everyday and are treated worse than criminals.
The remainder of the film follows Wolfgang as he struggles to survive through days of mistreatment as he vows to fight the rules of the institution. All while he desperately clings to the idea of returning to his mother and his old life.
Important Themes
It’s clear that Freistatt is a film that
touches on a hotbed of issues stemming from the mistreatment of students in institutions
like ones seen in the film.
Christian educational institutions and institutions for troubled youth were popular throughout the 60’s and 70’s.
Here can be found an account of a former student at Freistatt describing the illegal child labour practices carried at the school as seen in Freistatt.
Christian educational institutions and institutions for troubled youth were popular throughout the 60’s and 70’s.
Here can be found an account of a former student at Freistatt describing the illegal child labour practices carried at the school as seen in Freistatt.
During the 60's and 70's scandals
surfaced during the running of some institutions which saw them close, but many more accusations and stories have come
to light closer to the current time of writing.
As many children who attended these institutions have grown up to be adults, their stories have been heard by many.
Some, like this account emotionally telling that students were “treated worse than animals” and that “it was like 20 years of hell”.
As many children who attended these institutions have grown up to be adults, their stories have been heard by many.
Some, like this account emotionally telling that students were “treated worse than animals” and that “it was like 20 years of hell”.
While focusing on Germany, the establishment and
running of Catholic and Lutheran schools saw decades of widespread abuse after
the second world war. With the extent of abuses tolling in the thousands of victims
by their abusers. Abusers who were directly linked to the Catholic church as
Jesuit priests, as can be read here.
Additionally, a chilling article written by German news publication Der Spiegel can be read here which tells of the abusive horrors many children in the 60’s and 70’s underwent in these institutions.
Most recently there has been information uncovered about 547 boys belonging to the Regensburger Domspatzen boys choir having gone through ongoing sexual abuse for over six decades (with some victims stating they have been abused in 2017). It is evident that there are still cases happening in the present time.
Most recently there has been information uncovered about 547 boys belonging to the Regensburger Domspatzen boys choir having gone through ongoing sexual abuse for over six decades (with some victims stating they have been abused in 2017). It is evident that there are still cases happening in the present time.
Conclusion
Films like Freistatt are important in
telling emotional stories that touch on meaningful narratives.
They give a voice to victims and show the extent at which people have suffered. Helping to spread awareness about the massive abuse seen at these institutions and even cases seen in the present-day.
They give a voice to victims and show the extent at which people have suffered. Helping to spread awareness about the massive abuse seen at these institutions and even cases seen in the present-day.
Altogether, Freistatt is a sensational
film. It tells a real and emotional story of survival and overcoming a
period of abuse. Shedding light on a chilling historical and present-day issue
which affects millions of people worldwide.
Freistatt, will keep you enticed during the entire run-time of the film and is a remarkable production.
I highly recommend everyone and anyone to give it a watch.
Freistatt, will keep you enticed during the entire run-time of the film and is a remarkable production.
I highly recommend everyone and anyone to give it a watch.
