09 May 2010

Schwarzfahrer

Please take the time to watch this old German short film by Pepe Danquart (I've provided YouTube's embedded version with English subtitles). It won an Oscar. The title is a play on words, because "Schwarzfahrer" means "black passenger," but what you don't know is that the word "black" in combination with other things in German means "illegal" or "bad," such as with the "black market."

So, enjoy. And I promise it is worth waiting for the end!:

5 comments:

  1. Well, yes it is a classic. But it appears a bit crude and bumpy form today's perspective. How come you stumbled over it now?

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's so great! Do you feel like attitudes have changed since it was made? It's a little ridiculous in France right now, with the whole headscarf thing and the "national identity" debates. I have to remind people when they say things in front of me that I'm an immigrant too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think attitudes have changed, but it seems like the most extreme ones really are with the older people. I have to remind people too, but they always say things like, "But you're not Turkish," or, "you're adding to the economy." The second one isn't true at the moment, not really. Hmm. But I feel like their are similar attitudes in the U.S., especially with Mexicans. I was shocked when a relative of mine talked about how they should learn to speak better English or "go home." Wherever that is. Anyway, you get the point.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's also important to note that the Schwarzfahrer could either be the man riding in the black or the black man, but also to the woman who is escorted off the train (since the Fahrscheinkontrolle considers her riding in the black). Even though the black man is "unwanted", ultimately the racist woman is the one who is acting in the wrong and sent away since no one is willing to save her.

    ReplyDelete