Boom Boom Leipzig: The path from crisis to metropolis!

Boom Boom Leipzig: The path from crisis to metropolis!

Today, on August 14, 2025, the new documentary “Boom Boom Leipzig – Between Visions and Megalomania” celebrated its premiere in the ARD media library. The 68-minute film, which was produced by Christian Hans Schulz, a Westphalian native who has lived in Leipzig since 1990, describes the city's development over the last 35 years. It not only addresses challenges such as environmental pollution, business closures and mass unemployment, but also illuminates the symbolic turning point of the Peaceful Revolution and the subsequent upswing that made Leipzig the “boomtown” of the East. The broadcast on MDR television is scheduled for September 30, 2025 at 8:15 p.m.

The film combines historical archive footage with contemporary aerial footage to provide a comprehensive look at the city's transformation. Both contemporary witnesses and young city residents have their say. Among the interviewees are the actress Mai Duong Kieu, the author Greta Taubert and the urban researcher Elisa Gerbsch. Mai Duong Kieu highlights the personal connection to the city and emphasizes responsibility for the next generation.

The challenges of the past

Leipzig has an eventful history, marked by events such as the Battle of the Nations and the work of Johann Sebastian Bach. In the fall of 1989, the city, particularly the Plagwitz industrial district, was in poor condition. The then chief architect, Dietmar Fischer, noted that the environmental conditions were so bad that long-term living in this area seemed impossible. After reunification, Leipzig experienced a massive population decline of around 100,000 people, which corresponded to a fifth of the population at the time.

Despite this negative starting point, Leipzig developed into an attractive location for investors in the following years. In the 1990s, over ten billion euros were invested in renovation and infrastructure, which promoted Leipzig as a service, media and research location. In addition, old neighborhoods were renovated, which led to the creation of an oversupply of housing and reduced rental prices. This made Leipzig a real tenant's paradise.

The importance of investments

A key player in this transformation phase was the building contractor Jürgen Schneider, who invested in over 60 buildings in Leipzig, which are still considered tourist magnets today. Even if Manfred Rübesam's ambitious plans for a high-rise city were not realized, the urban planning vision is reflected in the cityscape.

In the 2000s, Greta Taubert, an immigrant, noticed that Leipzig was becoming attractive to many young people who were looking for freedom and creative opportunities. These developments led to a new cultural revival: cinemas and galleries opened, and the city began to compete for international events such as the Olympic Games. The expansion of the airport and the settlement of new companies gave the city further impetus.

The documentary “Boom Boom Leipzig” comes at the right time and offers a critical look at the city’s current situation, while at the same time capturing the voices of the people who value Leipzig. The mixture of humor, created by the presenters Mike Hoffmann and Thomas Seyde, and the in-depth interviews make the film a remarkable work that makes the history and future of Leipzig tangible.

For more information on the development of Leipzig and the documentary itself, take a look at the reports from lvz.de and mdr.de.