Corona time is film time

Limitation instead of boundlessness, says Mikael Krogerus. And tries to show his children new films instead of series.

The endless days of lockdown have led to increased TV consumption in our family - as is probably the case for everyone. Netflix is the order of the day. «House of Money», «Gilmore Girls» and «Prison Break» are our kids' favourites, but the eternal serials, the breathless never-ending, never-ending-ness drove me crazy over time. As soon as the credits roll, you only have a few seconds to let the impressions sink in before the next episode starts. «You can keep watching it like that», my daughter explained, «for days», I replied. She nodded enthusiastically.

After a while, I decided to change strategy: Film instead of series. Limitation instead of endlessness. Once 120 minutes instead of three times 48. It's not so easy for a generation that grew up with series to make the switch; it's like switching from a computer to a typewriter. It's possible, but why?

In their complexity, series have become a place of longing for adolescents. They want to know how the characters develop, want to look into their deepest abysses and share their most banal experiences, want to be as close to them as they will ever get to themselves. The series is, as has been written many times, the novel of the 21st century. The way in which children receive series is not dissimilar to reading a book. Dialogues or scenes are looked at again, they jump back but also «turn the page» when it gets boring. And just like reading an extensive novel, the appropriate reception of a series requires one thing above all: time.

So how was I supposed to steer the kids away from this path? I followed the age-old parenting maxim: don't tell them what to do, show them how much fun it is for you.

I followed the age-old parenting maxim: don't tell them what to do, show them how much fun it is for you.

So I watched my favourite films again. And what can I say. There's almost nothing better than watching the films you loved to watch as a child with your children.

A few rules apply:
Only ever watch films with your children that are a bit forbidden. In other words, films that scared you at the time, but also made you want to watch them. On getting older.
Be prepared for disappointment. Not everything gets better with age.

I was watching «The Godfather» with my 13-year-old during those weeks:
«The Godfather» - My daughter especially liked Marlon Brando, for days she made us offers «that you can't refuse».
«The Godfather II» - She found it complicated, but still interesting in its cold-heartedness.
«Jaws» - Quite nice, but she still giggles today when she tells her friends how her mum suddenly screamed on the sofa next to her when «a metal shark» emerged from the water.
«Stand By Me» - Cool, she commented, but why are there only boys and no girls in the film?
«The Breakfast Club» - She only finished watching it for my sake. Nothing about the teen film that moved me so much back then is still good. And I was shocked to realise that I most recognise myself in the father who drives his child to detention.

For the weekend, we are planning to watch «Spiel mir das Lied vom Tod», «Blackkklansman» due to the current situation and «The Shining» as a disturbing finale. I realise that these are not suitable films for 12-year-olds - please don't follow my example! On the other hand, my daughter had special tastes from an early age. Steeled by her mother's feminist, anti-fascist upbringing, she announced at school at the age of 11 that her favourite films were «Schindler's List», «Dying for Beginners» and «Sister Act». I feared a phone call from the teacher. Instead, her friends asked if they could come to a film night at our house again.

Mikael Krogerus is an author and editor of «Magazin». The father of a daughter and a son lives with his family in Basel.

He now writes a column once a week on the topic of coronavirus.

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