It is February 17, 2012: alongside his wife Bettina, Federal President Christian Wulff announces his resignation in the great hall of Bellevue Palace. Behind the couple lie 68 days of wrangling over the office of Head of State of the Federal Republic of Germany. 68 days since Christian Wulff found out about a planned exposé in the BILD newspaper about his house purchase during a trip abroad.

“Der Rücktritt” is a UFA FICTION production for SAT.1, directed by Thomas Schadt, who wrote the screenplay with the journalistic assistance of Jan Fleischhauer. Stefan Unterberger was responsible for the camera. Jochen Ketschau is the SAT.1 editor. Producers are Nico Hofmann, Joachim Kosack and Benjamin Benedict, producer is Korinna Roters.

Wulff actor Kai Wiesinger is fascinated by his role: “The whole world witnessed how the media dismantled the Federal President. With this film, we are trying to trace the emotions and developments – how the noose tightened and the Federal President was dragged into a media maelstrom from which there was no escape.”

For Bettina Wulff actress Anja Kling, the screenwriters’ concept alone was an argument for taking on the role: “I read it with great interest and was able to look behind the media façade of Christian and Bettina Wulff. The docu-drama genre makes it possible to present facts and a fair interpretation of events at the same time. And of course I have great faith in Nico Hofmann’s team and look forward to working with wonderful colleagues like Kai Wiesinger and director Thomas Schadt.”