What does Leipzig have that other cities don’t? A special DNA?
As the city of the peaceful revolution, it is known far beyond its borders. Young people in particular are attracted by the charm of this trade fair city, which is considered cosmopolitan and liberal. But what impact have the dramatic changes of the 1990s had on today’s younger generation?
now available in the ARD Mediathek and and on 30 September at 8:15 p.m. on MDR television
In four chapters, the film describes Leipzig’s development over the last 35 years – from a broken city and failed visions, to the myth of a boom town, to a real upswing and the prospect of further growth.
The film tells of the special attitude to life in Leipzig from the perspective of younger city dwellers such as actress Mai Duong Kieu, author Greta Taubert and urban researcher Elisa Gerbsch. They describe the enormous process of change in the city through personal experiences, reflecting on the associated feeling of constant pressure and the dynamics of the booming city.
These are complemented by the memories of contemporary witnesses who have made a difference in Leipzig or continue to do so today. Michael Kölmel, a well-known film rights dealer and football investor, talks about the renovation of the Zentralstadion and his search for a major sponsor for future first division football. Entrepreneur Ludwig Koehne bought the traditional Leipzig company Kirow in the 1990s and is now the world market leader with the railway cranes manufactured there, giving Leipzig a new architectural vision of modernity. All this and much more is put into context in a subtle and humorous way by Leipzig natives Mike Hoffmann (cabaret artist) and Thomas Seyde (psychologist).
With the help of rare archive material, impressive interviews and high-quality aerial photographs, visions typical of Leipzig and their consequences are put to the test. From the ‘Peanuts’ scandal surrounding property tycoon Jürgen Schneider, to the initially hopeful bid for the 2012 Olympics, from the birth pangs of the RB football fairy tale to such contrasting Leipzig landmarks as the Monument to the Battle of the Nations and Niemeyer’s sphere.
The documentary explores whether there is a very special mixture of successful or simply crazy visions in the trade fair city, which, especially in Leipzig’s case, have repeatedly turned into megalomania. The questions asked are: What are Leipzig’s biggest challenges and what visions does the ever-growing city still need in order to meet the pressing questions of the future?
