Fridays at 3pm

(Original title: Freitags um Drei)

Content

Every Friday at three o'clock in the meadow just behind the Southern power plant is the time and place where pensioner Hans and his buddies meet to play soccer- already since more than 50 years and regardless of the weather conditions.

The grandpa kickers are two generations apart from the youth, who joins them for quite some time to kick about and which keeps up the Friday tradition. The grandpas have seen it all, whereas the youth got still all their life in front of them. However, both generations share similar feelings: longing for an harmonic life and fears for their future. These hopes as well as concerns bridge the gap between the two generations and maintain a strong bond between them.

In life as well as on the soccer field there is not always harmony- not too seldom there is a conflict between die-hard Hans and fiery Patrick, who dislikes school- however, at the end of the day the solidarity within the group- young and old players- has so far overcome any issue. Thus, the 'problem kids' are once more motivated to join the oldies for a fair play every Friday afternoon. During the 90 minute match, it seems that the sorrows of everyday life just vanish and the game opens up for an interesting clash between different kinds of people and their life stories. There is no hierarchy on the soccer field - the only thing that matters is that Friday's match has highest priority for all parties.

A priority that not only connects a bizarre but also sympathetic group every Friday at three on the button.

Broadcast dates:

Premiere: Saturday, June 14, 2008, at 3:35 PM on arte

Rerun: June 27, 2008, at 10:00 AM on arte

Rerun 2011: September 18, 2011, at 3:00 AM on arte

The film was shot over a period of one and a half years in Munich and the surrounding area on DVCPro HD and impressively captures the attitude to life of both the young people and the elderly.

Availability

DVD with English subtitles

Technical Specifications

Original Title: Freitags um Drei (Documentary)
Length: 85 minutes
Format: DVCProHD 720p
Director: Christine Repond
Screenplay: Christine Repond
Cinematographer & Producer: Mathias Allary
Material Assistants: Daniela Kellner, Agata Wozniak, Johannes von Alten
Sound: Christopher Herold, Maximilian Haslberger, Alexander Truxa
Sound Assistants: Anna Meier, Roderik Helms
Editors: Jean-Claude Piroué, Gaby Seyfried
Sound Design: Paolo Mariangeli
Editors: ZDF & arte, Anne Even