The Miracle of Bern (2003) 2-Disc Special Edition

German filmmaker and former professional footballer (read: soccer player) Sönke Wortmann directs the family sports drama Das Wunder von Bern (The Miracle of Bern). The title is in reference to the unexpected German victory over the Hungarians at the 1954 World Cup in Bern, Switzerland. In the working-class Ruhr region of West Germany, the Lubanski family eagerly awaits husband and father Richard (Peter Lohmeyer) to be released from the Soviet POW camp. During his absence, mother Christa (Johanna Gastdorf) and daughter Ingrid (Birthe Wolter) have started up their own business, while son Matthias (Louis Klamroth) has developed an interest in soccer. He idolizes local player Helmut Rahn, but his father doesn't approve of it. Meanwhile, sports journalist Paul Ackermann (Lucas Gregorowicz) heads to Switzerland to cover the World Cup events. The finale at the climactic soccer game was re-created with professional players from the German Football Liga along with a 3-D stadium and CGI crowd.

Synopsis by Andrea LeVasseur, Allmovie.com

Historically, few movies have been made about football (or soccer, for those in the United States). I believe this is due for two reasons: 1) Hollywood wasn't familiar and care little for the sport for many years, and 2) European directors, who one would have expected to be more disposed to made such a film, have generally been dismissive of the sport. You see, in their mind, I think they see it as the opiate of the people (the working class in Western Europe would rather go and see a match on Sunday than start a revolution to overthrow capitalism). Only recently there have been a number of movies that deal with the world's most popular sport. This is in my opinion the best of them, dealing with the surprise victory of Germany in the 1954 World Cup over the highly favored team of Hungary. This victory was of historical significance for the Germans, according to some people, since it was the first victory of any kind Germany have 9 years after the end of the war, and it meant the start of a new era of increased self-confidence for the country. OK, maybe this is an exaggeration, but this movie, which mixes real characters (the players, coach Herberger) with invented ones (the journalist and his newly married wife, the kid from the Ruhr region who has a bad relationship with his former POW father and wants to go to Switzerland to see the final match) is thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end.

Review by Andres C. Salama, Amazon.com

IMDB 6,9/10 from 4 538 users
Wiki

Director: Sönke Wortmann

Writers: Sönke Wortmann, Rochus Hahn

Cast: Louis Klamroth, Peter Lohmeyer, Johanna Gastdorf, Lucas Gregorowicz, Katharina Wackernagel and other

Special Features:

Disc 1:

- Trailer
- TV-Spots
- Video-Vorschautrailer

Disc 2:

- Making Of
- Behind The Scenes
- Beitrag uber "Bildgestaltung und visuelle Effekte"
- Statements/Interviews mit den Mitwirkenden
- Szenen von der Futball WM 1954
- Ergebnisse von der Futball WM 1954
- Das Wunder von Bern - Die wahre Geschichte

All thanks to original releaser - kubelot

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