Theatrical release: 12.10.2023
Fresh, modern and lively – THE FLYING CLASSROOM is back on the big screen! After filming was completed at the end of July 2022, the rousing and cheerful new adaptation of Erich Kästner’s legendary book for children and young people celebrated its world premiere at Berlin’s Kulturbrauerei cinema on October 1. The moving story about friendship, enmity, courage and trust thrilled the premiere audience and was met with rapturous applause. On October 12, 2023, the film – a contemporary adaptation of the classic about the adventures of four friends at a boarding school in the Alps – will be released in cinemas as an autumn highlight. The film adaptation of the popular children’s and youth book features a prominent cast with Tom Schilling, Trystan Pütter and Hannah Herzsprung in the adult roles as well as an outstanding line-up of young actors, including Leni Deschner, Lovena Börschmann Ziegler, Morten Völlger, Franka Roche, Wanja Valentin Kube, Holly Schiek, Aaron Sansi, Leander Schumann and many more.
Direction
Carolina Hellsgård
Screenplay
Gerrit Hermans
Production
UFA FICTION
In co-production with LEONINE Studios
distributed by LEONINE Studios
Martina (Leni Deschner) lives in a high-rise housing estate in Berlin. When her mother is on shift, she has to help out at school and look after her little brother.
Then the talented thirteen-year-old gets the chance to win a scholarship to the coveted Johann Sigismund High School in the idyllic Alpine town of Kirchberg. As soon as she arrives, tough Jo (Lovena Börschmann Ziegler), boxer Matze (Morten Völlger) and little Uli (Wanja Valentin Kube) make it clear what the rules of school life are: The city kids at the boarding school and the “outsiders” from the rural town don’t mix, on the contrary, they are enemies, and have been for generations.
Even the adults can’t change that: The good-natured headmaster Justus Bökh (Tom Schilling) just tries to please everyone, the principal Kreuzkamm (Hannah Herzsprung) doesn’t get far with strictness either and is also the mother of external leader Ruda (Franka Roche) and the mysterious non-smoker (Trystan Pütter), who leads a drop-out life in a railroad carriage, doesn’t even interfere.
Martina really just wants to study and stay out of trouble, but is immediately in the middle of it, because the “interns” are constantly clashing with the gruff Ruda and her clique. Although she absolutely has to pass the exams to get the scholarship, Martina can’t let her new friends down.
The plan to settle the eternal dispute with a joint play at the end of the year doesn’t work out. The rift between the two groups is simply too deep. It takes a dramatic accident to change everything…
Finally back on the big screen: THE FLYING CLASSROOM is coming to German cinemas in a new edition of Erich Kästner’s popular children’s and youth book classic. Carolina Hellsgård directs the boarding school story with a contemporary twist based on a screenplay by Gerrit Hermans. The leading roles are played by Tom Schilling (FABIAN ODER DER GANG VOR DIE HUNDE, TKKG), Trystan Pütter (JGA: JASMIN, GINA, ANNA, KU’DAMM 63) and Hannah Herzsprung (DER BOANDLKRAMER, BABYLON BERLIN) as well as up-and-coming stars Leni Deschner, Lovena Börschmann Ziegler, Morten Völlger, Franka Roche, Wanja Valentin Kube, Holly Schiek, Aaron Sansi, Leander Schumann, and many more.and many more.
DAS FLIEGENDE KLASSENZIMMER is a production of UFA Fiction in co-production with LEONINE Studios. Producers are Sebastian Werninger and Benjamin Benedict (both UFA Fiction). Executive producers are Tobias Timme and Matthias Adler (both UFA Fiction). The film is directed by Carolina Hellsgård, the screenplay was written by Gerrit Hermans. The film was supported by the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the IDM Film Commission Südtirol, the German Federal Film Board FFA and the German Federal Film Fund DFFF.