This 2009 film is marketed as a true story of the Olympics, 1936. Gretel Bergmann was the best high jumper of her time, but as a Jew, she did not want to return to Germany to compete. One of her competitors, named Marie in the film, remains controversial to this day. I must say, in reading about this story, I’m conflicted in calling the film a “true story.” It does not appear as if the Nazis had plotted anything. (And those wondering why they would document such a scheme, the tradition of well-documented records was followed by the Nazis throughout their time in power.) There appears, instead, to be a home or even genetic concern surrounding “Marie.” Spiegel.de has a great article on the topic, available in English.
Gretel is played by Karoline Herfurth, who we know from Zettl. The actor who plays Marie is Sebastian Urzendowsky. He’s been acting regularly in film and on TV since 1998. None of the actors are names we see often (yet!), but they fit their roles well and the fact that they aren’t big names makes it easier to concentrate on the story.
There are clips of an interview with the real Gretel Bergmann at the end of the movie.
There is nudity important to the story in the shower scenes, as the real Gretel Bergmann noted that, although she never had any suspicions, she and the others found it odd that Dora wouldn’t shower in the nude with the others. The first such scene shows that as a sign of “something is weird.” This scene, however, could be edited or skipped. The second shows that Gretel actually saw Marie in a back room, a fact that the real Gretel never seems to have confirmed. Marie’s comments afterwards that she was forced to compete as a woman. The next several scenes include Marie and Gretel making plans, discussing why Gretel didn’t tell everyone about Marie, etc.
Again, I’m torn with this film. As a film, it’s quite good. But as a true story, I’m not quite sure…