Merkel: Anatomy of a Crisis

In the summer of 2015, the refugee crisis kept Europe and Germany in suspense. This political drama reconstructs the two months during which Chancellor Angela Merkel (Imogen Kogge) was under enormous pressure, torn between humanitarian obligations, political resistance, and European diplomacy. As millions of people flee war and misery, the situation on the Balkan route comes to a head: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán refuses to accept refugees, the CSU led by Horst Seehofer (Josef Bierbichler) calls for border closures, and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel (Timo Dierkes) uses the crisis to raise his own profile. Merkel ultimately decides on a policy of open borders and, together with Austria, organizes the admission of thousands of refugees. It is the time when the famous words “We can do it” were uttered, and Germany is still discussing the consequences of this decision today. The film, based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Robin Alexander, shows the political power struggles, the hectic negotiations in Berlin, Brussels, and Vienna, as well as private insights into Merkel's life – and makes it clear how much the actors were – and are – “driven” by events. "The last word in the film is ‘shit’. Angela Merkel says it after one hour, 56 minutes, and 58 seconds. She says it at the end of a long, compelling ARD film about the refugee crisis of summer 2015 that is well worth watching. The chancellor says it quietly, grief-stricken and furrowed. [...] The film shows a chancellor who is very likeable, deeply human, and calm and composed even in the most stressful situations, despite her weaknesses. The film is almost a declaration of love for Angela Merkel. [...] It is a real experience: the acting performances in this film are consistently remarkable." (Heribert Prantl, on: sueddeutsche.de)