The False Promise of Advancement (2025)

The False Promise of Advancement (2025) poster

Origin sticks like shit to your shoe! That's what Marlen Hobrack says, who grew up as a working-class child in Bautzen. But the promise of the old Federal Republic was that you can become anything if you just try hard enough. But that no longer applies. So is class in Germany fixed from birth? Have we long been living in a country in which origin and family background are more important for future prospects than individual performance and commitment? In Germany, it takes six generations to rise from poverty to the middle class, in Denmark only two generations. Those affected reflect on their life stories, the burden of their social origins, the wrong and right turning points for social advancement, as classified by social researchers. They talk of pride and shame, of financial hardship and wealth, of origin and future, of growing up and moving up in this Germany with its entrenched selection mechanisms for social advancement.

Director: Dirk Schneider, Ariane Riecker
Genre: Documentary, TV Movie
Runtime: 90 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Cinematography: Thomas Keffel, Lars Langer
Editing: Ferenc Stobäus, Anika Wiegert
Production: Hoferichter & Jacobs, MDR
Country: Germany
Language: Deutsch
Original Language: de
More Films by Director: Dirk Schneider, Ariane Riecker
More Films in Genre: Documentary, TV Movie

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The False Promise of Advancement about?
Origin sticks like shit to your shoe! That's what Marlen Hobrack says, who grew up as a working-class child in Bautzen. But the promise of the old Federal Republic was that you can become anything if you just try hard enough. But that no longer applies. So is class in Germany fixed from birth? Have we long been living in a country in which origin and family background are more important for future prospects than individual performance and commitment? In Germany, it takes six generations to rise from poverty to the middle class, in Denmark only two generations. Those affected reflect on their life stories, the burden of their social origins, the wrong and right turning points for social advancement, as classified by social researchers. They talk of pride and shame, of financial hardship and wealth, of origin and future, of growing up and moving up in this Germany with its entrenched selection mechanisms for social advancement.
Who directed The False Promise of Advancement?
The False Promise of Advancement was directed by Dirk Schneider, Ariane Riecker.
Who stars in The False Promise of Advancement?
The False Promise of Advancement stars Marlen Hobrack, Scott Wempe, Natalya Nepomnyashcha, Jörg Theobald, Stephanie zu Guttenberg, Cawa Younosi.
How long is The False Promise of Advancement?
The False Promise of Advancement has a runtime of 1h 30m (90 minutes).
What genre is The False Promise of Advancement?
The False Promise of Advancement is a Documentary, TV Movie film.
Where was The False Promise of Advancement produced?
The False Promise of Advancement was produced in Germany.