Helpers (Episode 3: Slovakia), a part of Across the Border: Five Views from Neighbours / Pomocníci / Die Helfer (Episode 3: Slowakei) v rámci Über die Grenze – Fünf Ansichten von Nachbarn

Documentary, Short
131 mins
Peter Kerekes
(2004)
Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia
29. 9. 2004, Kino Mladosť, Bratislava, SK

In the no-man’s-land of memory: Civilian helpers of the border police were often more effective at tracking down illegal border crossers and upholding the system than the army. Even schoolchildren were recruited. To Drobček the puppet the border of barbed wire was explained as follows: “There are people, envious people, who are bothered by the fact that we live here peacefully. They think about ways to damage our efforts. And it’s from these people that we have to protect our beautiful land, our blooming garden.” With biting humour HELPERS tries to get to the bottom of the historical truth, always present but still not talked about. As the political system changes, the volatile situations caused by international border traffic give rise to new prejudices and problems.