Sep 23, 2025
Calculating machine by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz now in cinemas
Dr. Jörg Zaun presenting the calculating machine at the set of the movie, 2024
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), one of the most important figures of the European Enlightenment, is particularly well known today for his philosophical works. However, his achievements went far beyond this: as a polymath, he made his mark in fields as diverse as law, history, and mathematics. Among other things, he developed one of the first functioning calculating machines ever, and thus a precursor to today's computers.
The Dresden mathematician and professor Nikolaus Joachim Lehmann reconstructed Leibniz's fascinating machine in the 1990s with the support of the workshop at the Faculty of Mathematics at TU Dresden. Normally, this gem can only be admired behind glass as a permanent loan to the Technical Collections Dresden. This year, however, it is entering a completely different stage: in the new film drama “Leibniz – Chronicle of a Lost Image” by renowned director Edgar Reitz, it has more than just a guest appearance.
The machine traveled to Munich last year for filming, accompanied by Dr. Jörg Zaun. As a research assistant at the Office for Academic Heritage, Scientific and Art Collections at TU Dresden, the science historian looks after and researches the cultural heritage and collections of the TU Dresden. Leibniz Machine can now be seen in operation in the film. While Leibniz complains about malfunctions in the film, the replica impressively proves that the historical invention still works reliably today.
The film celebrated its world premiere at this year's Berlinale film festival and will be in theaters starting September 18, 2025.