The woman who ran Europe for 16 years finally gets the reality show she never wanted.
33 minSeason 1 • Episode 5
LatestAngela Merkel has been in power for a decade and a half and is preparing to withdraw from politics. Here too she is the first: the first to withdraw in an orderly manner. She had already given up the CDU party leadership in 2018. She will not run for the next election. There will be a change of government in 2021. Tattoo: Angela Merkel's term of office ends after 5,860 days, missing the record of her sponsor, the "eternal chancellor" Helmut Kohl, by just ten days. First-time voters can hardly remember a Germany without Angela Merkel. Just a few weeks later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Merkel's fame is quickly crumbling. Germany does not appear to be well prepared for the storms of the times. What remains after 16 years of Chancellor Merkel?
Angela Merkel, Germany's first female chancellor, ended the "Merkel era" in 2021 after 16 years and with it a remarkable rise from "Kohl's girl" to "the most powerful woman in the world". Today their legacy is overshadowed by the climate crisis, Russia and the refugee issue. Two and a half years after her departure, the documentary series sheds light on the key years of her career and chancellorship, including Samira El Ouassil, LeFloid, Marina Weisband and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. The series focuses on the view of the “Merkel Generation” on the chancellorship of the first woman at the head of Germany.
Direction
Ramona Bergmann balances archival footage with uncomfortably candid interviews.
Production
The 'Merkel Generation' commentary adds layers the official record misses.
Editing
Cuts between 90s optimism and 2021 exhaustion hit harder than expected.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
LeFloid—one of the commentators—became Germany's biggest political YouTuber specifically by explaining Merkel's policies to young people who'd never vote CDU.
The term 'Merkel-Raute'—her trademark diamond hand gesture—was originally just a nervous habit she couldn't shake, then became unintentional branding genius.
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