“Tatort” repeat from Berlin
Divided country, common suffering: A thriller for the 30th anniversary of German unity
Commissioners Robert Karow (Mark Waschke, left) and Nina Rubin (Meret Becker) find Klaus Keller (Rolf Becker) dead on his 90th birthday. A strange message hangs around his neck.
© rbb/Stefan Erhard / ARD
The ARD repeats a case with the former Berlin investigator duo Karow and Rubin. They investigate in the environment of the entrepreneurial dynasty Keller. A crime during World War II and historical circumstances have torn the family apart.
- 4 out of 5 points
- An instructive piece of contemporary history paired with family dramas
What’s the matter?
The Berlin building contractor Klaus Keller (Rolf Becker) is found shot dead on his terrace on his 90th birthday. He wears a sign around his neck that reads: “I was too cowardly to fight for Germany”. Keller’s company planned a Holocaust memorial center in Israel. So is it an anti-Semitic attack? Shortly after Klaus Keller, his brother Gert also dies. The two men shared a tragic fate that has shaped the family for three generations and has led to numerous conflicts.
Why is the A Few Words After Midnight case worth it?
Reunification is the central theme of this “crime scene”. The film impressively shows how the German-German division tore families apart and led to contrary biographies. Screenwriter Christoph Darnstaedt goes even further, addressing the issue of guilt and forgiveness in connection with the Nazi crimes of World War II. It’s about the still existing differences between East and West Germany, the relationship between Germany and Israel, the strengthening of right-wing parties and, most importantly, about a family that history has divided.
What bothers?
The resolution of the case is a bit theatrical at the end, because it is actually clear early on in which direction it is going. Nevertheless, it is not a crime thriller to watch on the side. One has to pay close attention to understand all the intricacies. “Tatort” fans should also remember the story of “Life After Death”, which was broadcast in 2019 to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. There, too, there was a dead pensioner and an examination of German-German history.
The commissioners?
It is a case that also affects the commissioners Nina Rubin (Meret Becker) and Robert Karow (Mark Waschke) personally. Rubin is Jewish, grew up in West Germany, Karow comes from the former GDR. While she is primarily concerned about her faith and the well-being of her son, Karow shows an amazing family side when eating with his parents. Boiled beef is served along with the wonderful anecdote that the first thing the inspector bought after reunification was stretch trousers.
Turn on or off?
The film is a successful “Tatort” debut by the young director Lena Knauss. Switching on is worthwhile.
The “crime scene” episode”A few words after midnight” was first broadcast on October 4, 2020. ARD will repeat the film on Friday, June 9, 2023 at 10:20 p.m