The Flying Classroom
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The Flying Classroom, (or in original German known as Das Fliegende Klassenzimmer), is a 1933 novel for children written by the German writer Erich Kästner.
In this book Kastner took up the predominantly British genre of the School story, taking place in a Boarding school, and transferred it to an unmistakable German background.
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[edit] Plot summary
The story covers a few days left for the students of Johann-Sigismund Gymnasium before it's Christmas. The main characters - students from Quarta (Year 7) - are rehearsing a Christmas drama called 'The Flying Classroom' when their attention is distracted by a schoolbrawl against the students of the local Realschule. The depiction of the "war", taken very seriously by both sides, seems to be Kästner's wry way of commenting on grown-up wars, nationalism and patriotism. The protagonists then find out that the Nichtraucher, or non-smoker, the man who lives in a surplus second class non-smoking car lying in the Schrebergarten, is actually the long-lost best friend of their much-beloved teacher, Der Justus. They then try to reunite the long-separated friends, while coping up with their own individual problems.
[edit] Characters in "The Flying Classroom"
Jonathan Trotz, or Johnny - a half-American boy cast away by his parents. He loves poetry and writing, and dreams of being a great writer one day. He wants to marry a kind-hearted women and have children - children that he won't cast away anywhere.
Martin Thaler - a poor but bright student. His parents cannot afford the money for him to come home this Christmas, and it troubles him so. Martin has a very strong sense of justice, and he will come out fighting with his friends although it risks him his scholarship.
Matthias Selbmann, or Matz - he's not very clever, but he is strong. He wants to be a professional boxer. The other children rely on him to smash their opponents. Matz is kind of overprotective toward his bestfriend, Uli.
Uli von Simmern - the blonde, small, underrated rich boy. Best friend of Matz. He always tries to do his best during fighting - usually means hiding away in fear. Uli then decides to do an act of bravado to make other children stop making fun of him. Though nowhere stated explicitly, Kästner seems to imply homosexual tendencies of which the character might not be consciously aware.
Sebastian Frank, or Sepp - the cynical of the five. He spends time reading 'smart books' such as ones dealing in genetics or philosophy. Although he hangs out a lot with Johnny and the other guys, he actually has no bestfriends and is a lonely figure putting up a cold mask to cover his own weaknesses.
Der Schöne Theo - this character has no surname. He is Martin's prefect, busy trying to make himself look good in the eyes of the teachers.
Dr Johann Bökh, nicknamed Justus - the children's favourite teacher. He was a student of Johann-Sigismund and he knew well how hard life in the school is. That's why he returned to the gymnasium - to ensure that children don't have to suffer, like he did.
Nichtraucher - a bestfriend of Justus. He was a medical doctor. When he lost his wife and child, he disappeared, and later took residence in a trailer situated next to his old gymnasium. His nickname does not come from his not smoking (he does, very much so) but from his living in an old railway carriage still bearing a sign reading "non-smoking".
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
The novel has been made into the celluloid tape several times, the older one (1954) is directed by Kurt Hoffmann while the newest one (2002) is directed by Tomy Wigand. The story and characters are altered to suit the present time more. In Wigand's film, Sebastian Frank is fused with Rudi Kreuzkamm to produce 'Sebastian Kreuzkamm', a red-haired nerd.
[edit] Cast of film
The principal cast are:
Hauke Diekamp as Jonathan Trotz
Frederick Lau as Matthias Selbmann
Francois Goeske as Sebastian Kreuzkamm
Hans-Broich Wuttke as Uli von Simmern
Philipp Peters-Arnolds as Martin Thaler, a boy facing the dilemma of soon-to-divorce parents
Nicky Kantor as Der Schoene Theo
Sebastian Koch as Nichtraucher
Piet Klocke as Professor Kreuzkamm, the principal, Sebastian's father
Ulrich Noethen as Justus
[edit] Background, the sequel and trivia
This was the last Kästner book published before the rise of the Nazis to power. Though Nazis are not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the book, the situation of economic crisis and mass unemployment which made many German voters turn to Hilter is very evident in the book's background.
A short sequel, in which the characters visit the winter olympics of 1936 (held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria) was already written under the Nazi regime and got published only many years later, having less success than the original. In it Kästner let his characters have a friendly encounter with visiting English boys, at a time when their soon meeting each other as enemy soldiers on the battlefield was already a very real possibility.
- In Indonesia, the novel is published under the title 'Kelas Terbang' by Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Kästner, Erich (1933). Das Fliegende Klassenzimmer, 1st ed..
- Kästner, Erich; Walter Trier (Illustrator), Cyrus Brooks (Translator) (October 1967). The Flying Classroom, English ed., Puffin Books. ISBN 0140303111.
