Girls Can’t Kick it!
Torsten Körner’s documentary tells the story of the pioneers of women’s soccer, who stood their ground against all the obstacles that men put in their way and played the game of their lives. The road to the first officially recognized international match, in East and West, was rocky, but the soccer players had something to prove: women can play soccer! The fight for their sport was also a fight for the recognition and rights of women.
Without yesterday’s history, today’s success would not be possible. That is why this journey through time to and with the pioneers of women’s soccer in East and West Germany is still so relevant today. It sounds unbelievable, but as late as 1955, the DFB prohibited its clubs from allowing women to play soccer on their fields. This stirring documentary tells the story of the female soccer players who refused to accept such bans and fought for their passion. They found cunning and fearless ways to defy the male-dominated DFB and continue playing.
Women in the GDR also faced officials who did not support their sport and, at best, wanted to allow it to exist as a “wallflower.” Here, too, there were pioneers who, with perseverance, dedication, and love for soccer, proved that girls can play soccer after all. The virtuoso montage of this film creates an inspiring dialogue between the narrators’ original recordings and the finds from the archive. This entertaining and informative journey through time is of burning relevance as long as equality in society has not been achieved.
Excellently selected and appropriately edited (Ronald Rist), “Girls Can’t Play Soccer” traces the history of women’s soccer in both German states as a highly political cultural and social history (…) Torsten Körner’s documentary (…) shows German history. – FAZ
Körner has succeeded in creating a cinematic memorial. – 11 Freunde
An homage to the pioneers of women’s soccer. (…) a documentary par excellence. – Süddeutsche Zeitung
A very impressive film (…) a magnificent work. – radioeins 12 noon with Knut Elstermann
What makes Körner’s film multi-layered and fresh is its look at the GDR. – SPIEGEL
The cleverly edited film introduces pioneers who refused to give up their sport. – filmdienst
An emotional journey through time that is as gripping as a penalty shootout. – TV DIRECT
Bizarre, revealing, exciting. – HÖRZU
An important film that is as informative as it is entertaining. -Blickpunkt Film
Körner’s film is consistent and tidy in its structure, form, and content (…). – epd medien
Körner has (…) once again done extremely diligent work in the archives and shows scenes from “Sportschau” broadcasts of the time that would be considered scandalous today. – nd aktuell
A very moving documentary. – Deutschlandfunk Kultur Kompressor
A film by Torsten Körner
Editor Ronald Rist
DoP Knut Schmitz
Creative Producer Nele Huff & Antje Boehmert
Original Sound Zora Butzke, Luca Pontow & Jule Buerjes
Additional Camera Bernadette Paassen, Grischa Schmitz & Sven Klöpper
Archive Producer Janne Gärtner
Composer Stefan Döring
Sound Design & Mix Jochen Voerste
Color Grading Knut Schmitz
Production Management Stefanie Kaiser & Arndt Fehl
Line Producer rbb Dennis Münch, Lena Bretschneider & Corona Bellin
Head of Production DOCDAYS Ko Miklik
Consultant Carina Sophia Linne
Commissioning Editors Rolf Bergmann (RBB), Anaïs Roth (MDR), Raiko Richter (MDR), Sabine Mieder (HR), Marc Brasse (NDR), Thomas Kamp (WDR)
Executive Producer Antje Boehmert
A Production by DOCDAYS Productions for rbb, mdr, hr, ndr, wdr and Das Erste
Length: 90 Min
Release Date: 2025
Torsten Körner’s documentary tells the story of the pioneers of women’s soccer, who stood their ground against all the obstacles that men put in their way and played the game of their lives. The road to the first officially recognized international match, in East and West, was rocky, but the soccer players had something to prove: women can play soccer! The fight for their sport was also a fight for the recognition and rights of women.
Without yesterday’s history, today’s success would not be possible. That is why this journey through time to and with the pioneers of women’s soccer in East and West Germany is still so relevant today. It sounds unbelievable, but as late as 1955, the DFB prohibited its clubs from allowing women to play soccer on their fields. This stirring documentary tells the story of the female soccer players who refused to accept such bans and fought for their passion. They found cunning and fearless ways to defy the male-dominated DFB and continue playing.
Women in the GDR also faced officials who did not support their sport and, at best, wanted to allow it to exist as a “wallflower.” Here, too, there were pioneers who, with perseverance, dedication, and love for soccer, proved that girls can play soccer after all. The virtuoso montage of this film creates an inspiring dialogue between the narrators’ original recordings and the finds from the archive. This entertaining and informative journey through time is of burning relevance as long as equality in society has not been achieved.
A film by Torsten Körner
Editor Ronald Rist
DoP Knut Schmitz
Creative Producer Nele Huff & Antje Boehmert
Original Sound Zora Butzke, Luca Pontow & Jule Buerjes
Additional Camera Bernadette Paassen, Grischa Schmitz & Sven Klöpper
Archive Producer Janne Gärtner
Composer Stefan Döring
Sound Design & Mix Jochen Voerste
Color Grading Knut Schmitz
Production Management Stefanie Kaiser & Arndt Fehl
Line Producer rbb Dennis Münch, Lena Bretschneider & Corona Bellin
Head of Production DOCDAYS Ko Miklik
Consultant Carina Sophia Linne
Commissioning Editors Rolf Bergmann (RBB), Anaïs Roth (MDR), Raiko Richter (MDR), Sabine Mieder (HR), Marc Brasse (NDR), Thomas Kamp (WDR)
Executive Producer Antje Boehmert
A Production by DOCDAYS Productions for rbb, mdr, hr, ndr, wdr and Das Erste
Length: 90 Min
Release Date: 2025