A 14-year-old video enthusiast obsessed with violent films decides to make one of his own and show it to his parents, with tragic results.
"Benny's Video" tells the story of a teenager obsessed with filming who commits a disturbing act. The film offers learners exposure to everyday German vocabulary related to family life ("Eltern," "Mutter," "Vater," "Schwester"), school ("Schule," "Lehrer," "Klasse"), and technology ("Video," "Fernseher"). It also delves into darker themes, introducing vocabulary related to crime and its consequences. The dialogue includes casual teen conversations, parental lectures, and official interactions, providing a range of language styles. The film explores themes of alienation, violence, and the desensitizing effects of media. The emotional intensity of the story and the characters' reactions provide a context for learning German expressions of fear, anger, guilt, and desperation. The language used ranges from informal teenage slang to more formal adult speech, exposing learners to different registers and vocabulary. Observing how characters express these intense emotions can help learners understand the nuances of German communication. This film is beneficial for intermediate to advanced German learners. The variety of dialogue and vocabulary provides a good opportunity to expand their understanding of the language. Because "Benny's Video" is emotionally engaging, it can help learners connect with the language on a deeper level, making the learning process more memorable. The film also offers insights into Austrian culture and society.
Here are the first 15 of the more difficult words in Benny's Video:
