The Silent Revolution

The events unfold in late 1956, a tense moment in the early Cold War just before the 1961 construction of the Berlin Wall. The Hungarian uprising is referenced as a spark that inflames protests and shapes the students' sense of injustice. Government officials move quickly to suppress dissent, using accusations to smear opponents.

The film follows high school students in the East German town of Stalinstadt who secretly travel to West Berlin to glimpse life beyond the border. The city is under heavy state control, with schools and authorities policing loyalty and conformity. West Berlin's cinema and the RIAS radio stations offer a rare window into life outside the GDR, fueling the students' questions about truth and propaganda.

🦁 Courage

Young people confront a closed society by choosing small acts of defiance, such as moments of silence or refusing to name an instigator. The class remains together under pressure, risking graduation and freedom for a shared moral stance. Their courage, though imperfect, demonstrates the power of collective action.

🗞️ Propaganda and Truth

The students are exposed to state propaganda and competing reports from West Berlin via RIAS. Misinformation surrounding events, like the misreported death of a footballer, is used to inflame tensions. The film questions how truth can survive under surveillance and pressure.

🧭 Authority and Control

Authority figures wield surveillance and punishment to enforce obedience. The school superintendent and the national education minister pressure students to name an instigator, while interrogations reveal the fragility of loyalty under state power. The characters' resistance exposes the limits of coercive control.