8th Grade Cinema Outing to "The Apprentice" for English and History Classes

On October 24th, 2024, 25 students of the 8th-grade English classes, electives of the “History WPG”, and “English WPG” attended a screening of The Apprentice in its original English version at Moviemento Cinema in Linz. The film provided the students and their teachers, Sonja Gruber, Julia Gugerbauer and Claudia Zwicklhuber, with a captivating experience.

In The Apprentice, former U.S. President and current candidate Donald Trump is portrayed as a highly controversial figure whose actions and decisions reflect themes of greed, ambition, and the darker side of power. The film explores various complex issues that defined his public image, including his approach to sensitive topics like the AIDS crisis, his quarrelsome stance on financial gain, and his impact on social and economic inequality. It also examines the significant influences in Trump’s life, such as his wife, Ivana Trump, whose own ambitions and social presence shaped their public image, and Roy Cohn, a lawyer and mentor known for his aggressive tactics and controversial political connections. Through Trump's character and the impact of these figures, the film explores the effects of political influence, the dangers of unrestrained ambition, and the ethical challenges of leadership.

In class, we discussed the film, analyzing its themes, characters, and historical relevance. This was especially meaningful as we are currently studying the U.S. electoral system, which the film touches on in various ways and encouraged us to reflect on the film's message.  Our discussions helped us better understand the U.S. election process, sparking thoughtful conversations that enhanced our learning in both English and History.

Eleni Kouvaris