Trautmann

In World War II, Bernd Trautmann (David Kross) fights for the German Wehrmacht. Near the end of the war, he becomes a British prisoner of war and is taken to a camp near Manchester. Here, during a football match among prisoners, he catches the eye of grocer Jack Friar (John Henshaw), who is also the coach of the provincial club St. Helens. He immediately recognizes Trautmann's unique talent as a goalkeeper. The club could do with someone like him to avoid the threat of relegation. Against the resistance of the team, Friar hires the German, who is initially seen as an enemy everywhere. But with his talent and ambition, Trautmann not only wins the hearts of the fans, but also that of Friar's daughter Margaret (Freya Mavor). When he is hired by Manchester as a goalkeeper, however, he must realize how deep the hatred against the Germans still sits with most Englishmen.

With Trautmann, director Marcus H. Rosenmüller tells the true and impressive story of a truly exceptional footballer. He has secured a place in the sporting Olympus particularly through the legendary Cup Final of 1956, in which Bernd Bert Trautmann played through to the end despite breaking his neck and lifted the trophy at Wembley in front of 100,000 spectators for England's traditional club Manchester City. Rosenmüller, who had the biggest budget of his career to date at 11 million euros at his disposal here, has not only directed a stirring biopic about a great sportsman. Rather, his film is also a plea for forgiveness and international understanding.

David Kross plays the title role confidently and credibly. The rest of the cast and the atmospheric locations in Northern Ireland also make the film work well. However, it must also be said that the production at times feels a little too ponderous and despite the great images and good actors does not rise above the level of a TV movie. At such moments, it simply fails to fully exploit just the emotional potential inherent in the story. Rosenmüller is able to make crucial moments like the game at Wembley gripping. But as stirring as scenes like these are, other parts of the story just feel too pale and almost inconsequential.

That doesn't mean Trautmann is a bad film, though. The drama is far from that. The character at the center of the story is interesting enough to make you put up with a few weak moments. And besides that, the work has enough other positive aspects, which in the end lead to a very clear conclusion: Worth seeing!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp