"Extraklasse" is a German television film from 2018, so this one is under 1.5 years old still and a relatively new and fresh release. The director is Matthias Tiefenbacher and he is pretty experienced when it comes to filmmaking. More experienced than his writer Gernot Gricksch, but the latter also has fewer bad films in his body of work. And something I can say in his favor is as well that he is one of not too many German writers who actually started as novelists, but also adapt their own works into film screenplays. I have quite some respect for that. It also makes sense. If you are a writer anyway, you may do all you can for a film to turn out exactly the way you want it to. Both are in their 50s by the way. But the star here is of course the man you see on the photo here on imdb, a man who is no longer in his 50s (actually he just turned 60 a couple days ago), but still was when this film here was made/released. I am obviously talking about Axel Prahl. Every German film buff knows him, most of all probably still because of "Tatort", but he has also appeared in many other films, also theatrical releases, even if this one here is another small screen production. Prahl is a star and the consequence is that if he is the lead in a film, the rest of the cast is also packed with actors that are far from unknown here in Germany. This applies most of all to Katharina Thalbach, who plays a bit of a nothing character this time, but also to Szyszkowitz, Friedrich, Schwarz and Ulrich and these are just the ones I am familiar with. But this film is never about anybody other than Prahl's character. I am pretty sure that almost everybody who watched this saw a parallel to "Fack ju Göhte", but I never understood the hype about that one (let alone the sequels). Both are about a guy who ends up as a teacher despite no previous experience and he has to make sure that a class of challenging students does all they can to reach a degree. With FjG, it is the A-level, here it is the lowest certificate of secondary education. Just one example where this film is much more realistic. Also in an even more specific way when there is talk towards the end of the film about how you need a certain degree to be allowed to go to university. But let's not get too specific here now.
I think it is a charming and entertaining little movie. Sure, it is not always realistic, but I can forgive them for these moments of exaggerated coincidence how the characters all of a sudden always show up where their teacher is (the police station, the party...) or the too feel-good-ending when the man all of a sudden gets his job back. Also it is maybe a bit too much how literally every single one of the students has their own story of struggles with parents, partners, children, work etc. Even illiteracy and slavery become an issue eventually. So don't take the movie too seriously. If anything, thee African statues and how they are used in decision-making should make it very clear that the film itself does not take itself seriously either, just like it is the case most of the time when Prahl is part of it, especially as the lead actor. I mean there is one scene when Thalbach's character even talks about the protagonist's penis size. Enough said I'm sure. Just take it lightly. I was positively surprised. I thought this could have ended up much worse. It is not true greatness or depth, but it doesn't need to be either to make a solid impact and receive a positive recommendation from myself. Now I already mentioned that the ending may be slightly forced in terms of happiness when it comes to job guarantees (or the scene when they meet in the school corridor and alll falls down and Szyszkowitz' character protects him), but one other thing I definitely want to say that I found really positive and surprising is that there is not a happy ending for everybody and that felt truly realistic. Prahl's character has not heard of one or two of his students, some have to repeat etc. Maybe this way, they wanted to have an option for a sequel at some point and we will see if that happens. I am not sure how good the ratings were, but prahl is always a crowd magnet, so probably not totally bad. Maybe I'd watch if they make a second film at some point. Actually I could even think that the plot here offers the opportunity for a series, but I think that Prahl will not sign up for that and with another actor, it is kinda pointless. Okay what else is there to say? Oh yeah, I liked the political incorrectness here and there. I already mentioned the "slavery" scene that certainly many filmmakers would have been scared to include or also the muslim reference when Prahl's character is pretty wrong about the motivation why one of his students is not coming to school anymore. This film (i.e. the crew) was not scared of touching hot-button issues and they did so in a pretty creative way. I applaud them for that. Go see this film, especially if you (for whatever reason) like "Fack ju Göhte" ("Suck me Shakespeer"). Thumbs up!
I think it is a charming and entertaining little movie. Sure, it is not always realistic, but I can forgive them for these moments of exaggerated coincidence how the characters all of a sudden always show up where their teacher is (the police station, the party...) or the too feel-good-ending when the man all of a sudden gets his job back. Also it is maybe a bit too much how literally every single one of the students has their own story of struggles with parents, partners, children, work etc. Even illiteracy and slavery become an issue eventually. So don't take the movie too seriously. If anything, thee African statues and how they are used in decision-making should make it very clear that the film itself does not take itself seriously either, just like it is the case most of the time when Prahl is part of it, especially as the lead actor. I mean there is one scene when Thalbach's character even talks about the protagonist's penis size. Enough said I'm sure. Just take it lightly. I was positively surprised. I thought this could have ended up much worse. It is not true greatness or depth, but it doesn't need to be either to make a solid impact and receive a positive recommendation from myself. Now I already mentioned that the ending may be slightly forced in terms of happiness when it comes to job guarantees (or the scene when they meet in the school corridor and alll falls down and Szyszkowitz' character protects him), but one other thing I definitely want to say that I found really positive and surprising is that there is not a happy ending for everybody and that felt truly realistic. Prahl's character has not heard of one or two of his students, some have to repeat etc. Maybe this way, they wanted to have an option for a sequel at some point and we will see if that happens. I am not sure how good the ratings were, but prahl is always a crowd magnet, so probably not totally bad. Maybe I'd watch if they make a second film at some point. Actually I could even think that the plot here offers the opportunity for a series, but I think that Prahl will not sign up for that and with another actor, it is kinda pointless. Okay what else is there to say? Oh yeah, I liked the political incorrectness here and there. I already mentioned the "slavery" scene that certainly many filmmakers would have been scared to include or also the muslim reference when Prahl's character is pretty wrong about the motivation why one of his students is not coming to school anymore. This film (i.e. the crew) was not scared of touching hot-button issues and they did so in a pretty creative way. I applaud them for that. Go see this film, especially if you (for whatever reason) like "Fack ju Göhte" ("Suck me Shakespeer"). Thumbs up!
