In 1993 there was a co-production between the Studio Babelsberg GmbH and Von Vietinghoff Filmproduktion GmbH with the title ‘Fernes Land Pa-Isch’, with the rights held by the DEFA Foundation. It is a coming-of-age story and a road movie and it also serves as a social study in the period up to the reunification of Germany.
The film includes a scene with the Leverkusen club legends: The team back then take – initially unwittingly in the film – the two main actors to Berlin on the team bus headed for 1993 DFB Cup final. Ulf Kirsten is seen in conversation with the main character Umberto (played by Jens Schumann). But other club legends like Rüdiger Vollborn, Heiko Scholz or the captain of the time Franco Foda also have speaking roles.
The 90-minute film directed by Ralf Simon takes up the issue of social isolation. The 16-year-old Umberto lives with his younger half-sister Bianca (Macca Malik) and his mother Ilona (Renate Krößner), who has alcohol problems, in a small town in Saxony called Walda before the family move on to Hamburg. Umberto finds it hard to settle in the Hanseatic city – the social isolation is unbearable by now. This impossible circumstances lead Umberto and his little sister to dream of a better life in Africa, the home of Macca’s natural father.
With very negligible means and staying in several places en route the two main characters try to make their way to the African continent. However, the journey comes to an abrupt end in Berlin. On this journey, Umberto and Macca manage to get onto the Bayer 04 team bus unnoticed after having seen it at a service station. After the bus has set off again, the scenes with the Leverkusen club legends previously described take place.
According to information from the film museum in Potsdam, the filming with the former Bayer 04 team takes place on 25 July 1993. The scene on the bus on the motorway was filmed on a return journey from Wolfsburg to Leverkusen. The reason for the Werkself being in Lower Saxony was a friendly against the then second division team VfL Wolfsburg in the 1993/94 pre-season.
“Both before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall, we discussed the division of Germany again and again. And with this film production in 1993, we said we were prepared to involve the club in the film to raise the awareness of issues like social isolation,” said the former Bayer 04 CEO Reiner Calmund recalling the co-operation with the production company. “Bayer 04 developed an affinity with Eastern Germany early on. The fact we signed two GDR players of the season in Andreas Thom and Ulf Kirsten at the start of the 90s obviously contributed to the formation of an increasing number of fan clubs in Eastern Germany. We really valued that and showed our gratitude with trips to the fan clubs in the east. That all started with our first away game in Europe against Dukla Prague in the UEFA Cup in 1986/1987. It all began with the support of East German fans. The contact was easier and stronger after reunification,” added Calmund.
Due to financing problems, the associated screenplay adaptation and sale to a Hamburg film distributor meant the film was not broadcast for many years – neither in cinemas or on television. At the request of the director, Progress film distributors finally purchased the rights to the film in 2000. That led to a short run in art house cinemas and a first TV broadcast on VOX.
Calling all Werkself fans: The new Farbenstadt range is available now from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt. This includes new T-shirts made of 100% organic cotton, zip-up hoodies and jogging bottoms in five different summer colours.
Show moreBayer 04 new signing Carlotta Wamser has been called up to the Germany squad for the Women's EURO 2025 finals in Switzerland. For the 21-year-old winger, who is set to join Bayer 04 from Eintracht Frankfurt for next season, it is the first participation in a big international tournament.
Show moreFollowing the end of the season for Bayer 04, a lot of Werkself players are currently on the road with their national teams. The Leverkusen players are involved in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League, qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and international friendlies. Read on for the latest news on international fixtures involving Werkself players.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen will be the first Bundesliga team to hold their pre-season training camp in South America. The 2024 Bundesliga and DFB Cup winners will be in Rio de Janeiro from 14 to 24 July. Under the motto "Esquenta!" ("warm up"), the Werkself will prepare for the new campaign at the training facility of Flamengo Rio de Janeiro, one of the most renowned and largest clubs in South America.
Show more