Chartered Institute
of Linguists

Film and book discussion: Die Schweigeminute (A Minute’s Silence)

Event report

We spent a very enjoyable hour discussing Siegfried Lenz’ novella “Die Schweigeminute” (2008) and the film adaptation from 2016. A small but inspired group of participants discussed this beautiful love and coming of age story set in a small fishing town in post-war Germany. We compared the book and the film and interpreted the themes of love, loss, individual and collective memory and identity within the context of German history, culture and language.

Best of all, the participants are now inspired to read more books by Siegfried Lenz – job done!


Join the Gloucestershire Network on Zoom for a discussion of modern German classic novella Die Schweigeminute / A Minute’s Silence by Siegfried Lenz.

This tender, timeless love story by one of the most well-known literary voices of the 20th Century in Germany was published in 2008 and made into a film in 2016.

Set in a breath-takingly beautiful Baltic fishing village in the 1930s, A Minute’s Silence tells the story of the relationship between a teenage boy and his English teacher.

In preparation for the discussion, please read the book, which is available from online booksellers such as Amazon in German or in an English translation by Anthea Bell, or watch the film adaptation from 2016, available in German with English subtitles on Amazon Prime.

While watching or reading you could prepare for the discussion by considering: the characters and their relationships, plot, setting, film soundtrack, themes and the style of writing.

This event will be held in English.

November 21st, 2021 5:00 PM   to   6:00 PM
Online event
Events +
Category Gloucestershire Network
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Organiser

CIOL Gloucestershire Network