In the crowded landscape of historical innovation, names like Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, and Karl Benz are etched into cultural memory. Yet, just behind the name of Karl Benz—credited with inventing the first practical automobile—was a woman whose courage and ingenuity helped ignite one of the most revolutionary industries in modern history. That woman was Bertha Benz. Her name might not have appeared in textbooks for most of the 20th century, but her legacy is as important as any of her male contemporaries.
Bertha Benz did not just support the birth of the automobile; she proved its worth. She believed in the invention before the world saw its value. In 1888, when public skepticism still surrounded the viability of the so-called horseless carriage, Bertha took it upon herself to demonstrate otherwise. Her story is now the subject of an ambitious cinematic endeavor directed by Eloise Singer and starring Daisy Ridley, marking the first time Bertha’s life is being explored in such depth on screen.
The First Long-Distance Car Journey in History
In August 1888, Bertha Benz embarked on what would become the first long-distance journey ever made in an automobile. She left her home in Mannheim, Germany, early in the morning with her two teenage sons, driving the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, a three-wheeled vehicle that had never been tested beyond a few city streets. She did not inform her husband of her plans. Her destination was Pforzheim, her hometown, more than 100 kilometers away. The significance of this journey cannot be overstated.
The roads were unpaved and unmarked. There were no maps tailored to automobile travel. Fuel was not yet sold at stations, and mechanical support was nonexistent. Yet Bertha demonstrated resourcefulness and resilience at every turn. She cleaned fuel lines with her hatpin, used her hairpin to clear blockages, and stopped at a pharmacy to buy ligroin, a petroleum-based solvent that functioned as the car’s fuel. This small apothecary is now recognized as the world’s first filling station.
Bertha’s voyage was more than an act of belief in her husband's invention; it was a field test that revealed flaws, prompted design improvements, and most importantly, proved the practicality of the automobile to the public. Her journey resulted in updates to the vehicle’s brake system, climbing capacity, and fuel tank—all of which were crucial in advancing its commercial potential.
A Revolutionary Act of Defiance and Vision
What Bertha did was revolutionary not only in terms of technology but in terms of gender norms. The late 19th century was not a time when women were expected to leave their homes, much less operate experimental vehicles and undertake dangerous travel across rural landscapes. Bertha's journey defied the expectations of her gender and social class.
At the time, women in Germany were largely relegated to domestic roles. They could not vote, were discouraged from studying in universities, and were excluded from most scientific and technical discussions. Yet Bertha had played a central role in her husband’s invention from the start. She had invested her dowry in his company, provided early business advice, and offered mechanical suggestions. The 1888 journey was a culmination of her belief not only in the machine but in her judgment.
Historians now recognize her journey as one of the earliest acts of female entrepreneurship and advocacy in industrial Europe. Yet for decades, her contribution was either ignored or diminished. Only recently has her legacy begun to be fully acknowledged. In 2008, the German government established the Bertha Benz Memorial Route, tracing her original path from Mannheim to Pforzheim.
Why Bertha Benz’s Story Faded from History
The marginalization of Bertha Benz’s story is part of a broader pattern of historical oversight when it comes to women’s contributions to science, technology, and industry. While male inventors and industrialists were celebrated, women were often depicted as passive supporters or muses. Bertha was frequently referred to as "the wife of the inventor" rather than an innovator in her own right.
Part of this erasure is rooted in the patriarchal structures of education and storytelling. For generations, history was written by men, often with the assumption that great achievements were exclusively the domain of other men. Only in recent decades have scholars and educators begun to recover the stories of women like Ada Lovelace, Rosalind Franklin, and Katherine Johnson—women who fundamentally shaped their fields yet received little or no credit during their lifetimes.
In Bertha’s case, it wasn’t until historians began looking at personal letters, patents, and eyewitness accounts that her influence came into sharper focus. What emerged was not merely the story of a supportive spouse, but a determined and visionary partner. She understood both the mechanical and commercial implications of the car long before it became a global industry.
Bringing Her Legacy to the Screen
Recognizing the absence of Bertha Benz from mainstream history, filmmaker Eloise Singer set out to bring her story to the screen in a way that would resonate with contemporary audiences. The director’s commitment to female-driven storytelling, combined with an interest in lesser-known historical narratives, made Bertha Benz a perfect subject.
Singer was not interested in creating a dry biopic. Instead, she envisioned a cinematic experience that would combine historical fidelity with emotional depth. Her approach was to explore not only the 1888 journey but the life and mind of the woman who made it happen. What drove Bertha to defy convention? What were her fears, her doubts, and her sources of strength?
In developing the screenplay, Singer worked closely with historians and automotive experts to ensure accuracy, but she also incorporated psychological and interpersonal layers often missing in stories about inventors. The goal was to present Bertha not just as a historical figure, but as a person, complex, passionate, and fiercely intelligent.
Daisy Ridley as Bertha: Casting a Modern Icon
When casting the role of Bertha Benz, Singer needed an actor capable of conveying both vulnerability and resolve. Daisy Ridley, best known for her portrayal of Rey in the Star Wars franchise, brought a dynamic presence to the role. Ridley’s portrayal of strong yet emotionally nuanced characters made her a natural fit for Bertha.
Ridley immersed herself in the historical context, reading letters, biographies, and research material to better understand Bertha’s world. She approached the role with both reverence and curiosity, aiming to strip away the mythology and find the human being beneath. Her preparation included driving lessons in replica vehicles, physical training for the endurance required by the shoot, and collaboration with Singer to develop Bertha’s voice, both literal and figurative.
The chemistry between Ridley’s performance and Singer’s direction has drawn early praise from those who’ve seen previews, with critics noting that the film does not simply retell history—it reclaims it. By placing a woman at the center of a story so often associated with male genius, the film becomes a statement about whose achievements are celebrated and why.
The Broader Cultural Context
The timing of this film is no coincidence. Over the past decade, there has been a significant cultural push to recognize the stories of women who helped shape modern life. The success of films like Hidden Figures and The Imitation Game demonstrates an appetite for stories that merge history with human drama. Audiences want to know the names and faces behind the progress that transformed the 20th century.
Bertha Benz's story is uniquely positioned within this movement. It touches on themes of gender, innovation, family, and risk, each as relevant today as they were in 1888. The film does not simply present a moment in time; it invites viewers to reflect on how society defines courage and whose courage we remember.
As women in the film industry continue to push for representation both on-screen and behind the scenes, the story of Bertha Benz serves as a powerful metaphor. Just as she drove forward despite obstacles, so too do today’s female creators, carving new paths and redefining what stories are told—and who tells them.
Toward a New Understanding of Innovation
Innovation has long been framed as a solitary, often male-driven pursuit. Yet Bertha Benz’s story challenges that narrative. Her journey was not about ego or personal glory, but about collaboration, belief, and courage. She believed in the automobile because she had seen its potential, not just its faults. She believed in the idea of a world changed by movement.
Her story urges us to broaden our understanding of what it means to be a pioneer. It asks us to recognize that innovation is not only about engineering diagrams or mechanical breakthroughs but also about social risk and visionary thinking. Bertha Benz saw the future and drove straight into it, despite the unpaved roads and cultural barriers.
With the release of this film, her story will finally reach the audiences it deserves. And perhaps, more importantly, it will encourage new generations to seek out and celebrate the overlooked innovators in their midst.
Discovering a Hidden Historical Gem
For filmmaker Eloise Singer, the search for meaningful stories has always been more than a creative pursuit—it’s a mission. With a background in narrative storytelling and a strong focus on female-led narratives, Singer’s body of work reflects her belief that cinema can shift cultural conversations. It was this vision that led her to discover the extraordinary yet largely forgotten story of Bertha Benz, a woman whose legacy remained hidden in the shadows of her husband’s fame.
Singer’s introduction to Bertha’s story was not through traditional historical channels. It came during her broader research into underrepresented women in history—those whose achievements had gone unrecognized by the mainstream narrative. The name Bertha Benz surfaced again and again in footnotes, sidebars, and local German histories, but never as the central subject. The more Singer learned, the more astonished she became that no major film had ever been made about this pioneer who helped launch the automotive age.
That realization became a turning point. Singer saw Bertha not just as a character from history, but as a woman whose life echoed many of the struggles modern women still face today: invisibility, marginalization, and the fight to be heard. From that moment on, bringing Bertha Benz’s story to the screen became more than an artistic goal—it became a personal commitment.
The Challenge of Historical Silence
One of the most formidable challenges Singer faced early on was the lack of comprehensive archival material. While Bertha’s 1888 journey had been documented in brief historical accounts, few firsthand records delved into her thoughts, motivations, or internal conflicts. Letters were scarce, interviews nonexistent, and public recognition during her lifetime had been minimal.
This lack of personal documentation forced Singer to dig deeper. She turned to local German archives, consulted with automotive historians, and collaborated with feminist scholars to reconstruct a fuller picture of Bertha’s life. The goal was not to embellish the truth but to recover the emotional and intellectual world Bertha inhabited. This approach informed every aspect of the script, from dialogue to the visual tone of the film.
By working through fragmented records and scattered biographies, Singer was able to assemble a timeline of Bertha’s life that contextualized her fateful journey within a broader narrative of resistance, vision, and partnership. The research phase took more than a year, and it laid the foundation for a script that would strive for historical integrity while allowing room for dramatic storytelling.
Constructing a Human Portrait
Singer was determined to avoid turning Bertha into a one-dimensional figure. She wasn’t interested in portraying her as a flawless heroine or romanticized symbol of early feminism. Instead, she wanted to create a believable, emotionally layered character who faced doubts, made hard choices, and grew through adversity. For this, she relied heavily on the internal logic of character development used in narrative fiction.
The script was crafted to reveal different sides of Bertha. It explores her frustrations with the limitations placed on her by society, her evolving partnership with Karl Benz, her interactions with her sons, and her moment of radical decision-making that led to the 1888 journey. Singer wanted viewers to not just admire Bertha but to understand her.
To achieve this, the screenplay weaves between the personal and the political. Bertha’s decision to take the Motorwagen without permission is framed not just as an act of innovation but also as an act of rebellion. The film delves into the emotional isolation that accompanied her intelligence and ambition—a theme that resonates deeply in the context of gendered expectations in both the past and the present.
The Role of Empathy in Direction
For Eloise Singer, directing is not just about visuals—it’s about cultivating empathy. Her style leans heavily on character-driven storytelling, and she believes that emotional engagement is key to historical resonance. With Bertha Benz, the challenge was to place audiences not just in the era, but inside the mind of a woman who had to fight to be taken seriously.
From the first drafts of the script to the final stages of production, Singer focused on maintaining a consistent emotional thread. The visual language of the film reflects Bertha’s internal state: the solitude of early morning roads, the tension in small mechanical breakdowns, the weight of doubt in silent moments. Each frame is designed to bring viewers closer to Bertha’s experience rather than keeping them at a historical distance.
Singer also emphasized the importance of silence and pacing. The film allows space for stillness, giving weight to Bertha’s thoughts and hesitations. This approach contrasts with the often frenetic tempo of historical dramas, underscoring the contemplative nature of her journey. The audience is invited to feel every decision, every glance, every mile.
Creating an Authentic World
Historical accuracy was essential to Singer’s vision, but not at the expense of cinematic poetry. Her team worked meticulously to reconstruct the late 119th-centuryworld Bertha inhabited, from wardrobe and set design to lighting and dialogue. The goal was to create a world that felt lived-in and real, not museum-like or ornamental.
Production designers studied photographs, artifacts, and industrial blueprints from the 1880s. The Motorwagen itself was recreated using original engineering specifications. Costumes were tailored from materials authentic to the period, and interiors were styled to reflect the domestic and professional tensions within the Benz household.
Language was another layer of authenticity. The film incorporates German phrases and cadences subtly into the dialogue, providing texture without alienating a global audience. Singer also worked with dialect coaches and cultural historians to ensure the verbal and non-verbal communication of the characters remained true to the era.
Collaborating with Historians and Engineers
Unlike many period films that take creative liberties for the sake of drama, Singer sought a balance between storytelling and historical accuracy. To do this, she brought together a team that included not only scriptwriters and designers but also engineers, automotive historians, and cultural experts.
Engineers contributed insights into the functionality of the original Motorwagen and helped choreograph the driving scenes to reflect the genuine mechanics of the time. Automotive historians offered context on how Bertha’s journey influenced technological advancements. Feminist scholars helped deepen the exploration of gender roles and societal norms in 19th-century Germany.
This multidisciplinary collaboration enriched the film at every level. It added intellectual weight to the script, informed the actor’s performances, and grounded the production in a reality that would be compelling to both general viewers and academic audiences.
Finding the Right Creative Partners
One of the most important decisions Singer made was to surround herself with a team that shared her commitment to storytelling centered on women’s experiences. From cinematographers to costume designers, she chose collaborators who understood the importance of nuance, empathy, and authenticity.
Perhaps the most critical partnership was with Daisy Ridley, whose casting elevated the project to international attention. Ridley’s willingness to engage deeply with the role—and her interest in feminist narratives—made her a natural fit. The creative dialogue between the director and the lead actress became one of the pillars of the film’s development, with both women contributing insights into Bertha’s motivations and emotions.
Singer also worked closely with producers who valued historical storytelling that didn’t rely on spectacle alone. The result was a production culture that prioritized character, context, and clarity of vision over commercial shortcuts or formulaic arcs.
A Film Rooted in Values
Singer has described the film not just as a project, but as a declaration. At its core, it is a call to reexamine whose stories we tell, and how we choose to tell them. It’s about looking beyond the familiar faces on monuments and banknotes to uncover the people who made real change, often without recognition.
Bertha Benz represents a kind of historical truth that has too often been sidelined: that behind every revolution in technology or culture, there are voices that go unheard. By giving Bertha a voice and a presence, Singer’s film challenges that silence and invites audiences to listen differently.
The film also holds space for complex questions: What is legacy? Who defines history? And how do we give credit where it’s due, especially when time and culture have conspired to erase it? In answering these questions, Singer’s work becomes part of a much larger movement—one that seeks to democratize history through the power of narrative.
The Search for the Right Actress
When Eloise Singer began searching for the actress who would play Bertha Benz, she knew it was not a decision to be made lightly. Bertha was not just a historical figure—she was a visionary, a rebel, a wife, a mother, and an engineer in spirit. The role required someone who could embody the strength and intelligence of a woman who challenged the norms of her time, while also expressing the vulnerability and risk of her journey. The performance had to be layered and human, not mythic or idealized.
Singer found that balance in Daisy Ridley. Known internationally for her portrayal of Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Ridley had already proven her ability to carry emotionally complex, high-stakes narratives. But this role would be different. It was rooted not in fantasy or franchise but in history—real, raw, and deeply personal. For Ridley, the opportunity to bring Bertha Benz to the screen was as much a challenge as it was an honor.
Why Daisy Ridley Chose the Role
Daisy Ridley was drawn to Bertha’s story for the same reason many viewers will be: she couldn’t believe she had never heard of her. After reading the script and learning about Bertha’s 1888 journey, Ridley felt compelled to be a part of the project. She saw in Bertha a figure who had been unjustly overlooked—a woman who played a foundational role in the history of technology and mobility but whose name had been reduced to a footnote.
For Ridley, taking the role was not just about playing a historical character. It was about participating in a broader cultural effort to spotlight women whose stories have been excluded from mainstream narratives. She spoke often in interviews about how the role gave her a deeper appreciation of the invisible labor women have always performed in the background of innovation and progress.
She also saw the role as an opportunity to grow as an actress. While her previous roles had required physical strength and emotional intensity, Bertha’s character called for restraint, subtlety, and psychological depth. The challenge excited her—and so did the chance to work with a director like Eloise Singer, who approached the story with both sensitivity and resolve.
Immersing in the Historical Context
To bring authenticity to the role, Ridley committed herself to extensive historical research. She read every available biography on Bertha Benz, studied the social conditions of 19th-century Germany, and spent hours in discussion with historians. Her preparation extended beyond facts and timelines; she wanted to understand the psychology of a woman who had to assert her voice in a world that didn’t want to hear it.
Ridley also delved into the technical side of Bertha’s story. She studied the mechanics of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, working with automotive experts to understand how the vehicle operated. She practiced with replicas to get a feel for the machine's weight, motion, and responsiveness. These details helped her physical performance, allowing her to navigate driving scenes with the confidence and realism the role demanded.
Beyond mechanics, she paid attention to the period’s cultural dynamics—how women moved, how they were expected to speak and interact, and how they navigated the constraints of patriarchy. All of this informed her body language, facial expressions, and voice in the film, giving her performance a lived-in quality that audiences could intuitively feel.
Building the Character from the Inside Out
Ridley approached the role of Bertha not as an icon, but as a human being. She worked with Singer to explore Bertha’s emotional landscape—her private thoughts, her moments of doubt, and her motivations. Together, they decided to focus on internal tension as much as external events. The 1888 journey is the film’s centerpiece, but it is surrounded by intimate moments that give the audience insight into Bertha’s world.
One of the defining features of Ridley’s performance is its quietness. Bertha is not portrayed as loud or confrontational, but determined and composed. Ridley said in interviews that she found inspiration in women she knew personally—those who held families together, fought for their beliefs quietly, and persisted even when unseen. She wanted Bertha’s power to be felt in stillness as much as in action.
There’s a scene early in the film where Bertha stands in her workshop alone, running her fingers along the Motorwagen’s frame. She doesn’t speak, but the look in her eyes says everything. That moment, like many others, was born out of Ridley’s careful study of who Bertha might have been, what she might have carried, and what she dared to dream.
A Collaborative Relationship with Eloise Singer
The dynamic between director and actor is critical in any film, but especially so in a story like this, one built on nuance, restraint, and emotional subtext. Ridley and Singer developed a working relationship based on mutual respect and shared purpose. They were aligned not only in the story they wanted to tell but in how they wanted to tell it.
Singer gave Ridley space to experiment during rehearsals, encouraging her to bring her interpretations to the character. At the same time, Ridley trusted Singer’s vision and often sought her input on emotional beats, scene transitions, and silent cues. This give-and-take resulted in a performance that feels organic and grounded.
They also worked together to ensure that the script’s more subtle feminist themes came through without feeling forced. Rather than making Bertha deliver grand speeches about gender or equality, they focused on letting her actions speak for her through choices, risks, and resilience.
Portraying Bertha as a Wife and Mother
One of the most compelling aspects of Ridley’s portrayal is how she navigates Bertha’s roles within her family. The film does not treat her only as a trailblazer, but as a partner to Karl Benz and a mother to her sons. These relationships are not secondary—they are integral to her story.
Ridley captures the complexities of those dynamics with care. Her interactions with Karl are filled with layers—mutual respect, occasional tension, and the bittersweet awareness of inequality. In moments of disagreement, she remains composed but firm. In moments of partnership, she reveals Bertha’s belief not only in Karl’s work but in their shared vision.
As a mother, Bertha is protective but also instructive. During the 1888 journey, her sons became not just passengers but witnesses to her resolve. Ridley plays these scenes with tenderness and authority, showing a woman who nurtures while also leading by example. The family unit becomes a microcosm of the broader themes of support, belief, and shared responsibility.
Navigating the Journey Scenes
Filming the journey scenes presented unique challenges for Ridley. The route Bertha took from Mannheim to Pforzheim covered more than 100 kilometers and crossed rough terrain, steep hills, and remote villages. The film recreates much of that landscape, and many of the driving scenes were shot on location.
Ridley performed much of the driving herself in a replica of the original Motorwagen. It was slow, loud, and unpredictable—conditions that mirrored the reality Bertha faced. These scenes demanded not only physical stamina but emotional focus. The long takes and changing weather conditions made each shot a test of patience and control.
Despite these challenges, Ridley found the journey scenes to be some of the most rewarding. In them, she was able to tap into the deeper themes of the film: isolation, courage, discovery, and transformation. As Bertha progresses along the road, so too does her character arc. By the time she reaches Pforzheim, she is no longer just proving the car’s capabilities—she is claiming her place in history.
Critical Response to the Performance
Early screenings of the film have drawn praise for Ridley’s performance, with critics noting its restraint, depth, and authenticity. She has been described as “commanding without being domineering” and “emotionally precise in every frame.” Many reviewers have pointed out that the film succeeds largely because Ridley anchors it with such grace and presence.
Her performance has also sparked conversations about how historical women are portrayed on screen. Rather than dramatizing Bertha’s life for entertainment, Ridley’s portrayal honors the real complexities of a woman who navigated gendered expectations with intellect and quiet defiance. It’s a portrait that respects Bertha’s strength without needing to exaggerate it.
A Role That Resonates
For Daisy Ridley, playing Bertha Benz has been a transformative experience. She has spoken about how the role expanded her understanding of history, gender, and innovation. It also gave her the chance to explore a different kind of heroism—one rooted not in spectacle but in purpose and quiet persistence.
The performance is more than a highlight in Ridley’s career—it is a contribution to the cultural rebalancing of historical memory. In giving Bertha Benz a face, a voice, and a story, Ridley helps restore a place for her in public consciousness. She shows us that courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it drives forward through silence, wind, and dust.
Rewriting the Past Through Cinema
When the story of Bertha Benz first came to Eloise Singer’s attention, it existed largely on the margins of mainstream history. A footnote in automotive development, a name occasionally mentioned in niche historical circles, Bertha was rarely discussed outside Germany and rarely recognized for the groundbreaking journey she made in 1888. But through the combined efforts of Singer and Daisy Ridley, her story has now been given a platform large enough to reach a global audience.
Cinema, when handled with purpose and vision, can do more than just entertain. It can revise the way we understand the past. The Bertha Benz film is an example of how carefully constructed storytelling can correct historical omissions. It shines a light on the role women have played in shaping modern technology and challenges the viewer to consider how many other stories like Bertha’s remain untold.
The film has become a vehicle, not just for historical education but for cultural reflection. Its impact goes far beyond its runtime, inviting renewed conversations around gender, innovation, and recognition.
Inspiring a New Generation
Since its release, the film has resonated deeply with young audiences, particularly women who see in Bertha a reflection of their aspirations and struggles. Teachers and professors have begun using the film in classrooms, not only as a lesson in history but as a discussion starter on agency, perseverance, and unseen contributions.
For many young women, Bertha’s journey becomes symbolic. She is not simply a woman who drove a car a long distance—she is a woman who pushed forward in a society that wanted her to stay still. That symbolism has gained traction in educational programs, women’s leadership seminars, and STEM initiatives that seek to encourage girls to explore careers in engineering, science, and innovation.
The timing of the film’s release is also notable. In an era increasingly focused on inclusion, representation, and historical equity, the story of Bertha Benz aligns perfectly with the wider movement to revisit who we place at the center of our narratives. The film doesn’t just contribute to this cultural momentum—it helps drive it.
A Catalyst for Broader Historical Inquiry
One of the film’s most significant cultural contributions is its role in sparking broader interest in neglected histories. Viewers who were unfamiliar with Bertha Benz are now asking deeper questions about the people and events behind widely accepted historical achievements. If Bertha could be so essential and yet so overlooked, who else might have been forgotten?
This ripple effect has already begun to influence content creators, publishers, and academics. There is a growing appetite for films, books, and series that challenge the traditional, often male-centric, historical canon. The success of the Bertha Benz story proves there is both demand and value in revisiting the past from a more inclusive lens.
Historians have praised the film’s commitment to authenticity and context. Rather than oversimplifying Bertha’s contribution or isolating her from her environment, the film situates her within the broader socio-political landscape of 19th-century Germany. This approach doesn’t just make for compelling drama—it encourages critical thinking about how progress is achieved, who gets credit, and how those decisions shape collective memory.
The Global Response
Upon its international release, the film received acclaim at several prestigious festivals and began circulating in theaters and on streaming platforms across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Audiences from varied backgrounds have found points of resonance within the story, whether through Bertha’s innovation, her resolve, or the emotional dynamics of her journey.
In Germany, the film has taken on a special significance. The story of Bertha Benz is known in certain cultural and historical circles, but the film has helped elevate her to a level of recognition comparable to her husband, Karl Benz. Municipal screenings, public forums, and educational tours have incorporated the film into local programming aimed at restoring her legacy.
Outside of Europe, the reception has highlighted the universality of Bertha’s struggle. From tech hubs in California to educational centers in India, viewers have drawn parallels between Bertha’s story and the ongoing challenges women face in science, entrepreneurship, and leadership roles. That cross-cultural impact speaks to the film’s emotional truth and its ability to translate historical events into present-day relevance.
A Feminist Reframing of Innovation
By focusing on Bertha Benz, the film repositions innovation not just as a series of inventions but as a human process shaped by collaboration, risk, and courage. Traditional narratives often celebrate the lone male genius—Newton, Edison, Tesla, or even Karl Benz himself. This story complicates that narrative by showing that behind every major leap forward, there may be unacknowledged contributors operating in the background.
Bertha’s involvement in the early development of the automobile wasn’t peripheral—it was essential. She financed Karl’s work, offered mechanical insight, and ultimately provided the most important test drive in automotive history. By reframing her role, the film forces viewers to reconsider what innovation really looks like and who gets to define it.
This reframing has sparked interest from scholars and advocates seeking to build more inclusive histories of science and technology. It offers a powerful example of how cultural storytelling can correct systemic bias and provide models of achievement that resonate across gender and class divides.
Beyond the Film: Exhibits, Talks, and Recognition
The film’s success has led to a broader wave of public interest in Bertha Benz and her legacy. Museums, particularly those focused on technology and transportation, have begun featuring new exhibits dedicated to her. Some have even reconstructed the original route from Mannheim to Pforzheim as a driving tour that visitors can follow, combining history with real-world exploration.
Panel discussions and academic talks have featured both Eloise Singer and Daisy Ridley, providing insight into their creative process and the social responsibility of historical storytelling. These events have brought together voices from film, history, engineering, and gender studies, showcasing how a single story can bridge diverse fields of inquiry.
Perhaps most notably, there have been calls to formally recognize Bertha Benz in more public and permanent ways. Statues, street renamings, and curriculum changes have all been proposed in various regions. These gestures go beyond tribute—they represent a collective effort to embed her contributions into the everyday cultural landscape.
Critical Conversations Around Representation
While the film has been widely praised, it has also contributed to important critical discussions around representation. Some voices have asked why it took so long for Bertha’s story to reach the screen. Others have pointed out that similar stories—especially those of women of color, Indigenous inventors, or working-class innovators—remain untold.
These discussions are essential. They underscore the importance of not only telling forgotten stories but creating systems and funding structures that support a more equitable approach to historical storytelling. The success of the Bertha Benz film can serve as both inspiration and a challenge to filmmakers, producers, and institutions to widen the scope of their projects and dig deeper into the archives of human achievement.
Rather than seeing the film as a conclusion, many see it as a beginning. A model of what’s possible when vision, research, and ethical storytelling come together.
The Power of Remembering
At its heart, the story of Bertha Benz is about more than one woman or one moment in time. It’s about memory—who we choose to remember, and how. In that sense, the film becomes a cultural artifact in its own right, reshaping the archive and adding a new layer to the collective understanding of history.
By dramatizing Bertha’s life with care and accuracy, the film does not just make her known. It makes her unforgettable. And in doing so, it extends her influence far beyond the road from Mannheim to Pforzheim.
Audiences are left with more than just admiration. They are left with a question: how many other Berthas are out there? How many stories have we driven past without noticing?
Moving Forward
As the film continues its global circulation, its impact continues to grow. Eloise Singer and Daisy Ridley have achieved something rare: they’ve turned a nearly forgotten footnote in history into a story that is inspiring, instructive, and deeply relevant. They’ve built a bridge between past and present, showing how courage and conviction can echo across centuries.
But perhaps the film’s most enduring legacy lies in the cultural space it opens. A space where women’s contributions are no longer secondary. A space where innovation includes intuition and collaboration. A space where we understand that history is not fixed—it is something we can shape, refine, and rewrite.
The journey Bertha Benz took in 1888 was a journey of firsts. And thanks to this film, it won’t be the last time we hear from pioneers who were nearly lost to time. With the road now open, others will follow. And history will be better for it.
Final Thoughts
The story of Bertha Benz is not just a historical anecdote—it is a reminder of the countless contributions made by individuals, especially women, whose courage has gone unrecognized for far too long. Through the lens of film, Eloise Singer and Daisy Ridley have revived a figure who deserves to be central to the narrative of innovation, not peripheral to it.
The film captures more than just the 1888 journey; it captures the resilience of a woman who defied societal expectations, trusted her instincts, and believed in the transformative power of technology. It challenges the conventions of how we tell stories about progress, highlighting collaboration, perseverance, and the often unseen labor behind monumental change.
Singer’s direction and Ridley’s performance bring authenticity and emotional depth to Bertha’s life, making her story accessible and compelling to audiences across the world. Their work doesn’t just inform—it inspires. It makes clear that history is not finished; it is still being shaped by the stories we choose to tell and the voices we choose to amplify.
As viewers and readers, we are invited to reconsider who gets remembered, whose names become milestones, and whose journeys deserve to be traced across maps and timelines. Bertha Benz didn’t just pave the way for the automobile—she paved the way for how we think about innovation, courage, and recognition.
This film is a step toward reclaiming that narrative. And in doing so, it reminds us that behind every great invention, there may be a quiet force—visionary, a partner, a pioneer—without whom history might have looked very different.
Let this be a beginning, not a conclusion, in uncovering more stories like Bertha’s—stories that challenge the past and change how we move forward.