Der automobile Mensch - Irrwege einer Gesellschaft und mögliche Auswege

In the organizer's words:

Special screening in cooperation with BDA - Bund Deutscher Architektinnen und Architekten Frankfurt followed by a themed discussion

Guest: Director Reinhard Seiß (Urban+ association)

The current film by urban planner Reinhard Seiß is a stirring plea for a fundamental change in transportation as a prerequisite for serious climate protection, but also for the urgently needed conservation of land and other resources. The construction and mobility sector is by far the biggest driver of climate change and the overexploitation of our planet. Where what is built, how it is built, what mobility is required as a result and how we manage this is therefore a key issue for the future. At the same time, there is great political reluctance to make fundamental changes, especially when it comes to transportation. And nowhere are the forces of inertia in the economy as strong as here to hold on to entrenched structures.

Yet there are plenty of examples in the German-speaking world alone that show that things can be done with far fewer cars, and even much better: not only in urban, but also in suburban and rural areas, in both passenger and freight transport. However, the convenience of unrestricted automobility seems to come at the expense of intellectual mobility: Many people cannot or do not even want to imagine alternatives to mass motor vehicle transportation. The promise of future technologies that will allow us to continue our way of life or way of driving seem more attractive.

In addition to convincing best practices from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, South Tyrol, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, the film also sheds light on the interests and motives behind the car system: decision-makers and profiteers from politics and business, the legal and financial framework of our mobility and, last but not least, urban planning and settlement development as both cause and effect of traffic. Particularly drastic are the sometimes shocking, sometimes absurd examples of political and corporate denial of reality and whitewashing, which can often only make you shake your head or laugh. The trenchant comments in the film give plenty of cause for both.

Austria 2024; Director: Reinhard Seiß

From 18 years | 92 minutes