Almost thirty years have gone by since this 12-minute German award-winner was made, and much has happened in the interval to alter the consensus about Diversity as an unequivocally Good Thing. So this film may soon be nothing more than an interesting historical curio.
The story is told in a neat, economical way, using a city tram as a microcosm of a sensible, orderly society. An elderly white woman reluctantly allows a young black man to sit beside her, but soon finds a pretext for grumbling about the culture-clash between races.
Most improbably, the young black virtuously ignores her comments, as though he's in church, while the other passengers show a range of reactions, all of them passive. Soon the inspector comes round, and (again) most improbably, the young black brings out his ticket, smartly and promptly, like teacher's pet. When the old lady brings out hers, he suddenly snatches it and eats it - thus confirming every prejudice the woman has displayed!
The title 'Schwarzfahrer' (Black Rider) is a pun on the German term for someone travelling without a ticket - a role into which the old woman has suddenly found herself thrust, and I notice that most commentators on this page feel that it serves her right too. Meanwhile (unless I am wronging him) the black actor's name, Paul Outlaw, sounds to me distinctly made-up, for reasons that might not have much to do with pure virtue.
The story is told in a neat, economical way, using a city tram as a microcosm of a sensible, orderly society. An elderly white woman reluctantly allows a young black man to sit beside her, but soon finds a pretext for grumbling about the culture-clash between races.
Most improbably, the young black virtuously ignores her comments, as though he's in church, while the other passengers show a range of reactions, all of them passive. Soon the inspector comes round, and (again) most improbably, the young black brings out his ticket, smartly and promptly, like teacher's pet. When the old lady brings out hers, he suddenly snatches it and eats it - thus confirming every prejudice the woman has displayed!
The title 'Schwarzfahrer' (Black Rider) is a pun on the German term for someone travelling without a ticket - a role into which the old woman has suddenly found herself thrust, and I notice that most commentators on this page feel that it serves her right too. Meanwhile (unless I am wronging him) the black actor's name, Paul Outlaw, sounds to me distinctly made-up, for reasons that might not have much to do with pure virtue.