Klassenkampf (2008)

Germany's school system is known for its harsh sorting of students. The Hauptschule is often viewed as a place for those considered less capable, seen as unmotivated or prone to disruptive behavior. Uli Kick spent a year observing a ninth-grade class at a Munich secondary modern school during their final year. The film features perspectives from those with firsthand experience in these schools: a dedicated teacher who advocates for her students, and the students themselves, grappling with difficult home lives, adolescence, and challenging circumstances. Many come from single-parent households, with limited German language skills, and rely on their teacher and the school's janitor – who balances maintaining order with genuine concern for the students' well-being – for support.