Das Wunder von Bern (2003)
(The Miracle of Bern)
Country: GER
Technical: col. 118m
Director: Sönke Wortmann
Cast: Louis Klamroth, Peter Lohmeyer, Birthe Wolter
Synopsis:
After the war, in a Rhineland mining town, live the Lubanskis. The mother runs the local bar, as the father has not returned from his Soviet prison camp, and little Matthias is the local footballer's mascot and soccer mad. That year, 1954, sees two seismic events in the lives of the family, the town, and the country: the prisoners return, and Germany competes in Switzerland for the World Cup.
Review:
Wortmann's film presents us with a view of Germany finally pulling itself out of the rubble and trauma of the war, and regaining a sense of national pride. He astutely calibrates the production design (particularly the colour palette) to contrast the humble grey lives of the miners and their families with the richly appointed surroundings of the young sports reporter and his new wife. Similarly, Switzerland's green and sunlit uplands seem to offer a promise of better things for the team members and their uncompromising coach. One imagines, a very popular film in its homeland, but international audiences will also find much to stir the blood.
(The Miracle of Bern)
Country: GER
Technical: col. 118m
Director: Sönke Wortmann
Cast: Louis Klamroth, Peter Lohmeyer, Birthe Wolter
Synopsis:
After the war, in a Rhineland mining town, live the Lubanskis. The mother runs the local bar, as the father has not returned from his Soviet prison camp, and little Matthias is the local footballer's mascot and soccer mad. That year, 1954, sees two seismic events in the lives of the family, the town, and the country: the prisoners return, and Germany competes in Switzerland for the World Cup.
Review:
Wortmann's film presents us with a view of Germany finally pulling itself out of the rubble and trauma of the war, and regaining a sense of national pride. He astutely calibrates the production design (particularly the colour palette) to contrast the humble grey lives of the miners and their families with the richly appointed surroundings of the young sports reporter and his new wife. Similarly, Switzerland's green and sunlit uplands seem to offer a promise of better things for the team members and their uncompromising coach. One imagines, a very popular film in its homeland, but international audiences will also find much to stir the blood.
(The Miracle of Bern)
Country: GER
Technical: col. 118m
Director: Sönke Wortmann
Cast: Louis Klamroth, Peter Lohmeyer, Birthe Wolter
Synopsis:
After the war, in a Rhineland mining town, live the Lubanskis. The mother runs the local bar, as the father has not returned from his Soviet prison camp, and little Matthias is the local footballer's mascot and soccer mad. That year, 1954, sees two seismic events in the lives of the family, the town, and the country: the prisoners return, and Germany competes in Switzerland for the World Cup.
Review:
Wortmann's film presents us with a view of Germany finally pulling itself out of the rubble and trauma of the war, and regaining a sense of national pride. He astutely calibrates the production design (particularly the colour palette) to contrast the humble grey lives of the miners and their families with the richly appointed surroundings of the young sports reporter and his new wife. Similarly, Switzerland's green and sunlit uplands seem to offer a promise of better things for the team members and their uncompromising coach. One imagines, a very popular film in its homeland, but international audiences will also find much to stir the blood.