Life in Neukölln: Integration Need Not Fail (AT)
Recent months have seen much discussion about immigration, and in particular about the failure of integration. Berlin's Neukölln district remains a continual focus – motivated cynically by the especially high number of immigrants who live there, by high levels of criminality, by the aggressive atmosphere prevailing in the primary schools. Lona•media too has reported on this situation. But the discussion continues, it must continue. It cannot be allowed to remain stuck with depictions of negative conditions. In this ZDF Reportage, Güner Balci explores the efforts being made by committed residents of Neukölln to prevent the failure of integration. These are people who strive to enable Germans, Arabs, and Turks to live together in this neighborhood. No easy task, and one that requires considerable optimism. For these people, failure is not exceptional. The film showcases a number of Neukölln residents who refuse to be intimated by problematic developments in their district, nor by the gloomy prognoses trumpeted by some. The focus is on Germans who do not wish to move away, and on young immigrants who are working to foster integration.
