The Miracle of Bern (Das Wunder von Bern)

THE MIRACLE OF BERN

Ruhr region, spring 1 954

Alemannia Aachen one, Rot-Weiss Essen...

nil.

Man!

Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest... - Amen.

What about your job?

I didn't go. - What?

What d'you mean? - I didn't go.

For weeks I've been telling Hartwig to hire you,

and you don't even show up. - I won't work for an ex-Nazi!

Weekends you'll help me at the bar. - No way. Gotta practice Negro music.

Forget it! You're going to work, and that's it!

Stop treating me like a kid. - What's wrong, Mattes?

Eat something. - I'm not hungry.

That's all you're getting.

Rot-Weiss Essen lost, Mom. - They always lose. - Rubbish!

Mattes... - It's not so bad! - Oh, Mom!

One-nil...

Damn it!

To Aachen, of all teams!

What's wrong, Atze?

Come here. Tastes good. See? Blacky likes it, too.

We'll never be German champions.

Hi guys!

Hello!

Hey, that looks good. I need some supplies.

Smells good. - You still owe me from last time.

You'll get your money. The band's paying me tomorrow.

Band? - It's another name for a music group. Sounds better.

Mom says not to forget your homework. - I did it already.

So... did you get over it? - Yeah... - Christa...

Pour me another... - Haven't you had enough?

Always room for one more. Say a sentence with "dididid."

You got money? - Dididid a bike trip. Dididid it rain.

My mother wants to know when you're gonna pay your bill.

You're worse than your old man. - Watch it, buddy!

My old man's been in Russia for 1 1 years, so I'm in charge now.

So, when's it gonna be?

As soon as I find work. No sweat.

I'll hold you to it.

Alright...

I gotta go to practice.

Handball?

Very funny.

Ouch! Damn it!

Trying to kill me, fart face?

Sorry, but we're late.

Late for what?

For practice. - What's today anyway?

Tuesday. - What's the time?

4:30.

Okay, 1 5 minutes.

Jesus, Boss, you look awful!

Yeah, it was a long night.

We had a meeting.

A meeting? What about?

I forgot.

We're really in a hurry. - Mattes, you sure are a pest.

First you almost stone me, and then you rush me.

Can't you just ring the bell? Your predecessor Mischa was good.

He'd be waiting with two ice-cold beers after every game.

Hey, Köttel! You're not offended, are you?

No, but...

If I'm not good enough, you might find another bag boy.

Nonsense, Mattes! You're my mascot.

I only win when you're there. You saw what happened in Aachen.

You don't think so? It's true!

I always win those close games when you're there.

Come on.

Hurry, or I get charged for coming late.

That's what I said.

Man oh man!

Look at Boss crawl across the field. - Old men can't run, Willi.

No wonder they lose in Aachen.

Man! - My grandma could've done that, too.

Helmut, you couldn't even hit a truck from 3 meters!

I heard that, Willi!

Where've you been? - What's wrong?

She didn't want to open it until everybody was here.

What if he's dead?

We're gonna be a real family again.

Hey...

Aren't you happy?

Sure.

Munich

Wewetzer through the middle, passes to Paetz who passes to Kruhl,

Kruhl shoots... It's a goal!

Kruhl scores in the 81 st minute.

That was the decisive goal in Hamburg Stadium.

Stay seated. - 4-1 . - Not bad.

For Hanover. - What?

Honest. - Hanover's leading Kaiserslautern four to one?

Yeah. - Unbelievable! - It's true.

A remarkable final game for the German championship. The crowd is mocking

Coach Herberger.

Kaiserslautern, the team that's losing here,

is the backbone of the German team.

What a dark hour for the German team coach.

A dark hour too for Annette Ackermann, maiden name von Hadding.

Annette! - Hello, gentlemen!

Off work already? - No, of course not. Sorry.

Sorry.

Hey, what's wrong with soccer? I mean, I'm a sports reporter.

You have your good sides, too.

Come to a game with me sometime... - Just what I needed.

Hey, I've been looking for this everywhere.

What is it? - Morocco.

Dad gave us the house and a wedding trip. Perhaps you'd like to join me.

If you can find time between soccer matches. - A honeymoon?

You proposed, I accepted, and we got married. - Right.

We could go to Egypt afterwards, too, to see the pyramids.

It sounds more like a crusade. - I knew you'd love the idea.

What if he doesn't show up again? - Stop it. I'm nervous enough.

I just hope he's okay. Who knows what the Russians did to him.

The Russians! The Russians! The Russians kicked the Germans' ass,

'cause the Germans attacked them for no reason.

Christa!

I'm... I'm Ingrid.

And who's he?

I wrote you about him.

I never got a letter.

I'm sorry...

Matthias arrived after you were sent back to the front.

9 months after you were sent back. - You'll speak when you're asked to.

You named him after my father?

Well... this is it.

We're closed today, in your honor.

It's just a 5-minute bike ride to the coal mine.

You work behind the counter? - Yes, and Ingrid is a waitress.

What about Bruno? - Not me. I'm a musician.

A musician, huh? - Yeah.

And who's this? - The Boss.

So they call him. Actually, his name's

Helmut Rahn. - He plays for Rot-Weiss Essen,

and he's on the national team. And he's my best friend.

The World Cup's in Switzerland... - Your best friend!

I carry his bag and get to see the games for free.

He's sort of his father figure.

The kids are completely... It's time they got some discipline.

I had so little time for them, with the bar and all...

Things will change when I get my compensation.

I'll work in Shaft No. 4 again, so I can feed my family myself.

Then we can sell the bar.

Just give me some time, Christa.

Morning, Ackermann. - Morning, Mr. Ahrens. - Congratulations.

Thanks. - Is your wife expecting? - No, but we're working on it.

Good. But be careful. Women are the natural enemy of soccer.

Eventually the nagging subsides. - Whatever you say.

Listen, Ackermann, I have a problem. - Yes?

I need a good man to go to Switzerland.

What? To the World Cup? - Exactly.

I thought Schwerdtfeger was doing that.

I took him off it. Herberger was so annoyed by his last commentary.

I need somebody with a clean slate down there, a guy with talent!

You mean... me?

A guy who grasps things at once.

Nothing... as far as the eye can see.

Honey, help me choose a dress.

Annette, I got to tell you something. - Huh?

We have to cancel our honeymoon.

Ahrens is sending me to the World Cup.

No!

The chance of a lifetime. I can't say no.

Are you trying to tell me that soccer is more important than our honeymoon?

24 guys running after a single ball?

22.

Fine, 22, for all I care.

It'd be boring if everyone had a ball.

Okay, Ackermann!

What d'you mean by "okay"? - You can go.

I can? - Under one condition.

Which is?

I'm going with you.

Don't be sad, Köttel. I'll be back soon. - Can't I go, too?

How? You wanna sleep under my bed? - Why not?

'cause I share with Fritz Walter, and he can't sleep when you snore.

And if he can't sleep, he won't play well,

and we'll lose and be eliminated. You want that? - No. - You see.

But you said you couldn't win the big games without me.

You're right. But it won't work. What would your father say?

I wish you were my father.

Don't ever say that, Mattes. Your father went through a lot.

And he needs you here. Things will get better soon.

Yeah. - Okay.

Now read it again, but slowly, so I can enjoy it.

"Dear sports fans, We are glad to inform you

that we are expecting you on Wednesday,

May 26, 1 954

at the Sports Academy in Munich-Gr+nwald.

We wish to point out that all players receive compensation for missing work

while the team is participating in the competition. Regards, Passler."

They better have enough cash.

Time to go.

Come on!

Good luck, Boss!

You too, fart face!

Careful!

Please welcome our national goalkeeper, Anton Turek.

Of course we all call him Toni. He brought something