OUR COUNTRY 1974

The documentary is much more than a sequence of events, it tells the stories of people for whom 1974 was a defining year. For Walburga Krebber from Seppenrade, for example. Her husband, a Bundesliga referee, was chosen to coach the Zaire national team. The "Leopards" were accommodated in Ascheberg in Münsterland. They lived and trained there during the World Cup - and were looked after by Walburga Krebber.

Or the Australian Jo Ann Endicott. As a classical ballet dancer, she made her way to the other side of the world - to Wuppertal to join Pina Bausch. Bausch had just become ballet director and simply called her first choreography "Fritz". Endicott was part of the party and experienced a dance theater almost without dance, very minimalistic and experimental - Wuppertal and the Tanztheater Pina Bausch opened up a new world for Endicott.

The Allwetterzoo Münster, which celebrated its reopening in May, was also unbeatable in 1974. On this day, Bärbel Uphoff stood at the entrance and greeted visitors. On her arm were two chimpanzee children, Max and Moritz, whom she had raised herself. Animal keepers are a rarity in Münster in 1974. The 67-year-old Bärbel Uphoff was a pioneer and conquered this male domain.

The film is narrated by actress Annette Frier, who was born in Cologne in 1974. WDR was able to win ten prominent personalities from NRW as godparents and speakers for the films. They tell the stories and events of the year they were born, making the series "Unser Land - die 70er" a very personal and entertaining journey back in time to a turbulent decade.