Getting Schooled at Football: EUFF Director Sebastien Grobler
Die Mannschaft, as the German national football team is known at home, are so successful that you might think that football was invented by the Germans. That's not the case. Back when football was invented in England, Germany was uniting and post-unification there was much suspicion of this new, foreign game. Lessons of a Dream, showing as part of the EUFF, tells the story of Konrad Koch, a German who returns home in 1874 to teach English at a boys' school. Along with the language skills he learned at Cambridge, he brings the nascent game of football. We spoke to the director, Sebastien Grobler, before today's showing at Sanlitun Megabox.
Of all of the famous football stories, why the story of Konrad Koch?
In Germany everyone thinks we've been playing football since the middle ages or something, when actually the history of football [in Germany] is relatively recent. And it was banned in school [in that time] so we had to find somewhere else to play it, in the park or something, or we had to leave school. It was an interesting story. Also I like the fact that he was a pioneer, that he faced a lot of struggle to introduce this sport. I am really interested in pioneers.
How did you find out about this story?
I found it. There's not much written about it, I discovered it. It's a forgotten story in Germany. I had a few years talking to producers, backers. Overall it took about five years to make it.
Are you a football fan? Who do you support?
Yes, my personal team is Hamburg. I live about 500 yards from the stadium. My father took me there often. I remember particularly the 1983 Champions League when Hamburg played Juventus in the final and I was in the stadium. But we lost.
How do you describe this film to people?
There's two things: 1. How football came to Germany. 2. The story of a teacher who changed the whole school and the system, the thinking of the people.
If you were transported back to 1874, what would be your profession?
I would probably be a teacher. Of literature. Or Latin. I like Latin.
How do international audiences differ in their reaction to the film?
We won awards in South and North America - in Canada. In France, Germany and in Pyongyang in North Korea. I'm happy now, I know that the film's very general topics works all over the world.
What films are Lessons of a Dream compared to?
It was important we had to have a good ending. That it was a feel-good movie. Positive like a football game. And that it was emotional story-telling. The film Cider House Rules was an influence, the texture, the music, the warm hardship, and it's a little epic. But the story is completely different.
What is the most memorable game of football that you have played or watched?
1997, Champions League final. Borussia Dortmund in the final against Juventus. It was 3-1 to Dortmund. I was so astonished, everyone thought Juventus was going to win, they [Dortmund] were the underdogs. I like underdogs. Also the 1990 world cup between [West] Germany and Argentina was pretty special.
See the film today ( Nov 3): RMB 40. 2pm. Sanlitun Megabox (6417 6118)
Photo: Mask9.com
