The Lesson follows four children through their experience of
learning about the Holocaust in a German state school. Filmed over
five years during 2014-2019, the film touches upon important social
and political issues including the resurgence of the far-right,
xenophobia, the fractured, disparate collective memory of National
Socialism, and the surprising lack of intimate knowledge of the
younger generations on the subject. The film examines how despite the
perceived exemplary educational system, new generations are growing
indifferent to their nation’s dark past and unwilling to apply the
lessons learned to the realities of today. Filmed against the
backdrop of changing political scenery during five years of
production, in Germany and across the world, the film subtly suggests
the urgency and importance in tackling the uncomfortable truths
therein. The Lesson is supported by Claims Conference,
Jonathan Logan Film Institute, Carey Institute for Global Good, One
World Media, and others.
Biography:
Elena Horn is a young German filmmaker who started her career
as a media psychologist researching the framing effects in the news
coverage of the Iraq War in the US, Britain, and Sweden. Today she is
working as a story producer for ZDF, WDR, SKY and SPIEGEL TV Wissen.
Elena’s films focus on questions around education, migration,
working culture, love, and ethnic conflict, employing visual
inspirations from the world of music and dance. As a director, Elena
is a fellow of the Logan Non-Fiction Program in New York. Her short
documentary “Pizza, Democracy and the Little Prince”, co-directed
with Alessandro Leonardi, earned the “Best Short Documentary Award
2019” at the Sedona Film Festival. Currently Elena is working as a
director for ARTE, a French-German culture channel.
