Learning from the big screen

This week is 'SchulKinoWochen' (schools cinema week) in Hamburg. Between Monday 23 and Thursday 26 November, 11 cinemas around the city are open to school groups, students and, if performances are not sold out, to the public.

The films on offer range from new releases to classics. You can watch films you've seen before or catch ones you missed first time around. However, the aim is that you learn from them.

In her introduction in the printed listings, Christa Goetsch, Senator for Schools and Vocational Learning, says: "Cinema films have the power to spark social debate. Sometimes they remain in the collective memory as a work of art for an entire generation. But as with other types of media, to make the most of the experience, you need to know what you are doing."

For this reason, the descriptions of each film list the themes covered, the part of the curriculum to which it relates, URLs from which teachers can download marterials to use pre- and post-performance, and the class for which the screening is appropriate. An expert or, in the case of Empire St. Pauli , the film makers, will be on hand to lead debate or help viewers interpret the subject matter.

The films on offer range from 'Unsere Erde - Der Film' (released as Earth) to the screen version of the Thomas Mann classic Buddenbrooks via 'Fightgirl Ayse' (released as 'Fighter').

For each film there is a choice of dates and locations around the city. The screenings are also open to the public. Timings are between 9am and 3pm.