Jens Grötzschel

On September 14, 1958, a tense and historic first meeting took place at Charles de Gaulle’s private estate between German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (Burghart Klaußner) and the future French President Charles de Gaulle (Jean-Yves Berteloot). Later referred to by historians as “The Miracle of Colombey,” this encounter is considered the birth of the Franco-German friendship and a milestone in European integration.

Two men, whose lives had been deeply shaped by the experiences of both World Wars, faced each other. What began as an open and, at times, contentious exchange gradually evolved into a conversation from man to man—marked by growing trust and mutual respect. This meeting laid the foundation for the personal friendship between Adenauer and de Gaulle.

The film is a commissioned production by ZDF in cooperation with ARTE. Produced by Wolfgang Cimera and Mark von Seydlitz, it was directed by Kai Wessel, edited by Tina Freitag, and shot by cinematographer Holly Fink. Yves Berteloot portrays Charles de Gaulle, while Burghart Klaußner plays Konrad Adenauer. The score was composed by Jens Grötzschel.