Leipzig in autumn 1989: thousands of GDR citizens take to the streets. They demonstrate for more freedom, for civil rights, for democracy! The people revolt against a state that oppresses, spies on and monitors its citizens.
History is being made on the streets of Leipzig this autumn. It is the story of functionaries ready to use violence and of people who overcome their fear. It is the story of nameless people who change the world with their courage and prepare the beginning of the end of the GDR - and the entire Eastern Bloc. It is the story of the "Miracle of Leipzig".
Autumn 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the peaceful revolution in Leipzig. What began in September 1989 as a prayer for peace in Leipzig's Nikolai Church developed within a few weeks into powerful "Monday demonstrations" for more freedom, for reforms and free elections in the GDR - a revolution that almost ended in disaster.".
Together with MDR, ARTE and BROADVIEW TV, the multi-award-winning directors Sebastian Dehnhardt (Emmy, German Television Award, Bavarian Television Award) and Matthias Schmidt (Grimme Award) reconstruct the dramatic events of October 1989 with their 90-minute HD primetime documentary "The Miracle of Leipzig". Contemporary witnesses from both sides of the confrontations as well as Leipzig citizens tell how they experienced the decisive week. They tell of fears and hopes, of courage and despair, of conflicts and solidarity.
First broadcast: Thu. 24 September 2009, 22:30, Arte.
The miracle of Leipzig - We are the people
Leipzig in autumn 1989: thousands of GDR citizens take to the streets. They demonstrate for more freedom, for civil rights, for democracy! The people revolt against a state that oppresses, spies on and monitors its citizens.
History is being made on the streets of Leipzig this autumn. It is the story of functionaries ready to use violence and of people who overcome their fear. It is the story of nameless people who change the world with their courage and prepare the beginning of the end of the GDR - and the entire Eastern Bloc. It is the story of the "Miracle of Leipzig".
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