Learn german with The Tin Drum

Oskar Matzerath is a very unusual boy. Refusing to leave the womb until promised a tin drum by his mother, Agnes, Oskar is reluctant to enter a world he sees as filled with hypocrisy and injustice, and vows on his third birthday to never grow up. Miraculously, he gets his wish. As the Nazis rise to power in Danzig, Oskar wills himself to remain a child, beating his tin drum incessantly and screaming in protest at the chaos surrounding him.

Why learn german with The Tin Drum?

"The Tin Drum" tells the story of Oskar Matzerath, a boy who decides to stop growing at the age of three as a protest against the adult world. Living through pre-WWII Danzig, the Nazi era, and its aftermath, Oskar witnesses the absurdities and horrors of these times through the eyes of a child, albeit a highly perceptive and manipulative one. The film offers a unique perspective on history and explores themes of identity, family, and guilt. From a language learning perspective, "The Tin Drum" exposes you to a variety of German dialects, including the distinct Danzig dialect, and vocabulary related to historical events, family relationships (like "Großmutter" - grandmother, "Cousin" - cousin), and everyday life. The movie is emotionally charged, ranging from humorous and playful to dark and disturbing. This emotional range, expressed through diverse language, provides learners with an opportunity to understand how tone and vocabulary shift with changing moods. The film's dialogues often involve arguments, discussions, and intimate conversations, allowing learners to observe how Germans express a wide spectrum of feelings. You'll encounter language used to express love, anger, fear, and desperation, which is invaluable for achieving fluency beyond basic textbook phrases. The film also showcases the power of language to manipulate and deceive, as Oskar uses his high-pitched scream to get what he wants and influence events. "The Tin Drum" is a powerful and thought-provoking film that can enrich your German learning journey. Its historical setting provides context for understanding the development of the German language and culture during a tumultuous period. The movie's complex characters and their relationships will improve your comprehension of colloquial language and social interactions. Because the movie jumps between time periods, learners will also get to see how the language has shifted throughout history. This movie will not only expand your vocabulary and comprehension but also deepen your understanding of German history and society.