Hey folks, Harry here with word coming in from Europe on a German film that supposedly is a bit of a jewel! Seems this is a period film set in the fifties in Germany regarding football... aka FOOTSIE aka Soccer. It's that sport that Sylvester Stallone made famous with that really cool actor with the broken arm that did the loop-de-loop kick to win the day against them bastard Nazis! Is this as good as VICTORY!? I don't know, but that and BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM ruled... but does this film have the next sexiest tomboy beanpole? Let's hope!
Hey AICN,
this is Scalia bringing you a review about a worthwhile recent output of the German film industry.
Germany may not be known for its frequent output of movie masterpieces but, as recent examples like ‘Nowhere In Africa‘ and ‘Goodbye, Lenin‘ have proven, every year or so a little gem comes along.
This year’s gem is Sönke Wortmann’s ‘Das Wunder von Bern‘ (‘The Miracle of Bern‘) and deals with an event that is considered highly significant event in recent German history: A football match.
Don’t laugh, for this was no ordinary match.
In 1954, Germany won the World Championship which posed a moment (and maybe the first in a long time) of national pride and hope for a country traumatized by dictatorship and war.
But fear not, this is not a film strictly for football lovers. In fact, only about a third of it centres around the National Team in which rebel player Helmuth Rahn (Sascha Göpel delivers a striking debut) is struggling for trainer Sepp Herberger’s respect.
The main focus of the film is young Matthias Lubanski (Louis Klamroth displays real talent), Rahn’s assistant, whose father has just returned to the family after 11 years as a POW in Russia.
Conflicts arise as father Richard Lubanski (masterfully portrayed by established German actor Peter Lohmeyer) tries to come to terms with his war trauma and a country and family that’s developed and changed without him. Holding on tight to the safety of old Nazi notions (‘German boys don’t cry‘), the family falls apart when Communist son Bruno leaves for Eastern Germany. Eventually, however, Richard and son Matthias experience their own Miracle of Bern when they find that their love of football can unite them.
The film’s third storyline deals with two newly-weds, a sports reporter and his football-hating wife. They, too, find they really need each other on that magic day in 1954. You might ask if that branch of the film was really needed. However, its almost screwball character proves a nice light counterpoint to the dramatic family story.
Apart from the final triumph at the World Championship, the film’s most moving moment is placed at its very end. When father Richard Lubanski opens a letter from lost son Bruno wishing the family all the best and asking them to come and see him any time, he suddenly starts to cry.
‘What must you think of your father. Sitting here and crying like a child.‘, he addresses son Matthias. ‘I think sometimes it’s okay for German boys to cry, Dad‘, Matthias replies.
Naturally, this film deals with an event that is legend in Germany, still, the film’s massive emotional impact and its dealing with a time in German history that is rarely taken on by filmmakers make it worthwhile for viewers all over the world. More than 2 million Germans have witnessed ‘Das Wunder von Bern‘ already but it certainly deserves a chance in the States as well. Or anywhere else for that matter.
