Der ganz große Traum

Yes, the movie is a kind of German version of Dead Poet' Society. If you like one, you will like the other.

Both movies are about teaching and show the relation young teacher - elder teachers - pupils - parents.

A young teacher has modern ideas and didactical goals that most of his elder colleagues either do not understand or find threatening. It takes some time before the pupils understand what he wants them to learn. Conservative parents do everything to get the teacher dispelled from school.

Because the movies are so similar, the differences between the two societies in which they take place become very clear. Also, the endings differ, but that is less important.