The Miracle of Bern (2003)
"Das Wunder von Bern" (original title)

The movie deals with the championship-winning German soccer team of 1954. Its story is linked with two others: The family of a young boy is split due to the events in World War II, and the ... See full summary »

Director:

Sönke Wortmann

Writers:

Sönke Wortmann (screenplay), Rochus Hahn (screenplay)

Stars:

Louis Klamroth, Peter Lohmeyer, Johanna Gastdorf

10 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Louis Klamroth	...	Matthias Lubanski
Peter Lohmeyer	...	Richard Lubanski
Johanna Gastdorf	...	Christa Lubanski
Mirko Lang	...	Bruno Lubanski
Birthe Wolter	...	Ingrid Lubanski
Katharina Wackernagel	...	Annette Ackermann
Lucas Gregorowicz	...	Paul Ackermann
Peter Franke	...	Sepp Herberger
Sascha Göpel	...	Helmut Rahn
Knut Hartwig	...	Fritz Walter
Holger Dexne	...	Horst Eckel
Simon Verhoeven	...	Ottmar Walter
Jo Stock	...	Toni Turek
Martin Bretschneider	...	Hans Schäfer
Christian Broos	...	Werner Kohlmeyer (Im Endspiel)

Storyline

The movie deals with the championship-winning German soccer team of 1954. Its story is linked with two others: The family of a young boy is split due to the events in World War II, and the father returns from Russia after eleven years. His problems in getting back to normal life are shown, with references to his children and wife. The second story is about a reporter and his wife reporting from the tournament.

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Plot Keywords:

soccer | german soccer | boy | post world war two germany | west germany | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

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Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German Swiss German

Release Date:

16 October 2003 (Germany)

Also Known As:

A berni csoda

Filming Locations:

Beek, Duisburg, North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

€7,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$96,149 (Switzerland) (31 October 2003)

Gross:

$12,660,891 (Germany) (28 November 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Little Shark Entertainment GmbH, Senator Film Produktion, Seven Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While the Lubanski family part of the story is completely fictional, many historic details related to soccer (letters, game results, three players stealing away from training camp, on-the-spot-reports, Adi Dassler etc.) are historical accurate.

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Goofs

The closing credits state the team winning the trophy in Bern ("die Elf von Bern") never played together again. In fact, the Bern team played one last match together, which was a benefit game 15 years after the victory.

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the closing credits one can hear the original radio reporter signing off from the stadium in Bern.

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Connections

References Gladiator (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Ja, so fängt es immer an"
(Siegfried Ulrich)
Performed by Rita Paul
With permission of Musikverlag Melodie Froboess und Budde KG
Courtesy of BMG Berlin Musik GmbH

User Reviews

Great period movie

It's easy to appreciate how much of a morale boost to a country sporting victories are in international competition, particularly when that sport is almost the national religion as soccer is throughout Europe. But you don't need to be a soccer fan or a German to appreciate this wonderful film, where the pathos of a bittersweet family reunion when the father comes home from a Soviet work camp after 11 years is as much the centerpiece as the quiet optimism leading to the football win and the joy following it. Obviously Germany in 1954 was a country still rebuilding from its recently shattered past and that feeling is conveyed superbly. The end is charming, in fact the nicest closing scene I can remember.