NOMINATED FOR THE 2024 GRIMME AWARD

Jonathan “Jonny” Schüddekopf is a hugely popular teacher at a Waldorf school in Berlin. But in 2020 when the pandemic begins, he must choose his health over his job. Due to his severely impaired lung function, Jonny isolates himself to a remote vacation home in Sweden. The question of whether he can continue to teach becomes a crucial test for the whole school community in Berlin.

When he was a child, Jonny was told he would not live to adulthood because of his muscular condition. But that never stopped him. He throws himself wholeheartedly into life, and when he encounters problems, he finds solutions. For teaching, his solution consists of Jonny teaching his class online from Sweden while his brother is in the classroom as an assistant teacher. However, the school rejects this as a long-term solution. Jonny is disappointed, and so he sets off on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Lapland to see the northern lights. He uses his online lessons to report to his students live from the Arctic Circle.

Jonathan teaches his students how wonderful life in a community can be when everyone looks out for each other and no one is excluded. His situation becomes an important trial for the community at his Waldorf school. In these unprecedented times, are solidarity and inclusion still possible? The boundary between ideals and reality suddenly comes to light.

“Jonny Island” is a touching portrait of a protagonist whose enthusiasm for life is simply inspiring.

A film by Petra Mäussnest

Writer, Director, Editor Petra Mäussnest

Camera Bernadette Paassen, Knut Schmitz

Sound Petra Mäussnest, Sven Klöpper, Michael Thäle

Edit-Consultant Thomas Wellmann, Catrin Vogt

Composer Marcus Sander

Mix Max Hartstang

Color Grading Knut Schmitz

Line Producer Ko Miklik

Commissioning Editor Katya Mader

Executive Producers Antje Boehmert, Petra Mäussnest

A Production by Petra Mäussnest & DOCDAYS Productions in association with zdf/3sat with funding by Filmbüro Bremen

Length: 90 Min
Release Date: 2023