Rainer Wenger, a PE teacher with a past as a rock-loving anarchist, involves her sixth-form students in an experiment simulating a ‘dictatorship’ amongst the school desks to explain the concept of autocracy to them. For a week, they must submit to ‘Herr Wenger’s’ strict disciplinary system, adhere to a dress code and work together as part of a hierarchical structure, isolating or suppressing any dissidents. In no time at all, the pupils discover a winning spirit of camaraderie, overcome their insecurities and fears surrounding the figure of the charismatic ‘bad teacher’, and feel justified in carrying out acts of violence and vandalism, in a situation that soon spills beyond the school’s walls.
As part of the "Fino all’ultimo banco" seminar series.
Approach
At Merano train station take either the bus no. 1 or bus no. 4 and get off at the Elisabeth Park stop at via Cavour.
From the city center you can reach the Culture Centre with a 5-minute walk or in just a few minutes by bike, following the cycle path that runs along the Ponte della Posta bridge and passes the Sissi statue.