Thrillers or crime series are not really Germany’s forte. There have been some nice tries, but generally, the result is not something I would go to the movie’s for or spend an evening glued to my (non-existent) TV screen. For that I prefer “The silence of the lambs”. Or a Mankell-based movie with inspector Wallander. Or – in case of great despair and little alternatives – series like “Crossing Jordan” or “Cold Case”. Nonetheless, for the last almost 40 years, the Sunday night murder mystery “Tatort” ("Crime Scene") has persistently survived, as did the music and trailer at the beginning of each 90 minute (no ads!) episode.
Thrilling like any suspense movie, but with a lot of social criticism, as well as regional/ local characteristics, hot topics, controversial discussions on its internet forum, and then again an extreme popularity in general, and all over Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Maybe with the exception of some inhabitants of Northern Germany, who have problems understanding the Austrians (due to the language). Or some people in Swabia and Saxonia for whom the inspectors in Stuttgart and Leipzig do not speak enough of the regional dialect compared to the ones who recently retired. And, I fully admit, there have been some very bizarre, not to say crappy, episodes. But hey, just wait one week, and chances are high you won’t be disappointed again. Tatort is a classic, Tatort is cult. In lots of cities, so called Tatort pubs have been established, where Tatort lovers can enjoy the murder mystery in the company of spaghetti with tomato sauce, ice cold beer, and other fans. Unfortunately, there’s no public place to watch in Heidelberg (should I lose my job, I’ll open one :-).
Tatort is a survivor. It could not be eradicated by either the launch of competitive private television channels, the fall of the Berlin wall and the German reunification, the parallel broadcast of Rosamunde Pilcher movies, or, last but not least, the smoking ban for public television. While in the first Tatort in 1970 a chain-smoking inspector Trimmel took a taxi to Leipzig in a cloud of blue smoke, all current inspectors have kicked their habit (if necessary) to become role models for our children and teenagers. And, by the way, most of the suspects and murderers are impeccable, too – at least as far as their nicotine consumption is concerned.
Somehow the concept of Tatort works. Rumors spread that the Dutch are planning to copy it. As they have more than 700 German episodes to get ideas and inspiration from, it shouldn’t be that hard. Even the Americans, who are somewhat reluctant to show foreign movies and prefer American productions instead, could surprise their CSI-traumatized viewers by reshooting the first 700 episodes for a start. That should get the crisis shaken movie business up and running again. With a good marketing concept, a couple of familiar actors as inspectors, a bit of luck (and maybe some more action scenes for the older episodes), they surely would get some passionate admirers like in Germany.
And in case producers out there need some help, no problem, they can call me anytime. Except on Sundays between 8.15 and 9.45 p.m.
Tatort is a survivor. It could not be eradicated by either the launch of competitive private television channels, the fall of the Berlin wall and the German reunification, the parallel broadcast of Rosamunde Pilcher movies, or, last but not least, the smoking ban for public television. While in the first Tatort in 1970 a chain-smoking inspector Trimmel took a taxi to Leipzig in a cloud of blue smoke, all current inspectors have kicked their habit (if necessary) to become role models for our children and teenagers. And, by the way, most of the suspects and murderers are impeccable, too – at least as far as their nicotine consumption is concerned.
Somehow the concept of Tatort works. Rumors spread that the Dutch are planning to copy it. As they have more than 700 German episodes to get ideas and inspiration from, it shouldn’t be that hard. Even the Americans, who are somewhat reluctant to show foreign movies and prefer American productions instead, could surprise their CSI-traumatized viewers by reshooting the first 700 episodes for a start. That should get the crisis shaken movie business up and running again. With a good marketing concept, a couple of familiar actors as inspectors, a bit of luck (and maybe some more action scenes for the older episodes), they surely would get some passionate admirers like in Germany.
And in case producers out there need some help, no problem, they can call me anytime. Except on Sundays between 8.15 and 9.45 p.m.
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