The mining industry, a long-time supporter of soccer clubs in Germany's Ruhr valley after World War II, no longer exists in that capacity. Many of the region’s once-great teams, which were dominant in German soccer until the 1970s, declined without financial support.
"The Sun Rose in the West" chronicles the history of "Revier football" from the post-war era to the decline of coal mining, remembering legendary players and lesser-known clubs. The film illustrates how deeply soccer was woven into the fabric of Ruhr area life – both personal and communal – and how the shift in industry left its mark on the sport. Using archival photos, interviews with people who lived through it, and current-day footage of the same locations, the documentary offers a contemporary look at German post-war history through the lens of soccer.
