For schools
A film about the First World War that keeps looking at the present. For history and civic education, German and digital literacy in upper secondary school.
Why this film
How do societies slide into war? Karl Kraus showed it through the newspapers of his day. The film shows it through the newspapers of then and the feeds of today.
In the film, historians, an officer, a diplomat, a journalist, a literary scholar and a peace researcher speak. In between, an influencer comments, and ChatGPT speaks as itself. Some of the images were generated with AI, and the film says so. That makes it a good starting point for critical viewing of images.
Six patterns
The teaching material is structured around six patterns that the film exposes. With pattern bingo, students note which ones they recognise in the film. That is the way into the discussion afterwards.
The narrative
Every war needs a story.
Propaganda
Then the newspaper, now the feed.
Failed diplomacy
Crises taken out of the diplomats’ hands.
Hubris
Decisions whose consequences no one could foresee.
The new world order
Winners and losers.
Peace
What it takes to make it work.
School screening
Morning screenings at partner cinemas, from the release through the summer term 2027.
Talk
After the screening, with the director or people from the film.
Cinema and workshop
A cinema visit followed by a workshop on media literacy and fake news.
Teaching material
Free to download: Karl Kraus and the First World War, propaganda then and now, source criticism, AI-generated images, peace education. In preparation, in German.
Is the film right for your class?
- What age is it for?
- The film is intended for upper secondary students. It contains current footage from war and crisis zones. A rating from the Austrian Youth Media Commission has been applied for, aiming at age 12 and up. Before the release there will be a screening for teachers.
- How much time does it take?
- The film runs about 90 minutes. With travel and a talk, that is a morning, not a double lesson.
- Does the film have a rating?
- A distinction from the Filmbewertungskommission of the Austrian provinces has been applied for. We will add the result here.
- Is the film in English?
- The film is in German. School screenings take place in Austria; for international schools, please ask us.
Book a screening
Tell us which school, how many classes and when. The partner cinemas’ dates will be posted here as soon as the release is fixed.
office@ritzlfilm.at
+43 664 300 43 72
