“Tatort” from Munich
Agatha Christie in the monastery – Batic and Leitmayr investigate nuns
The “Tatort” commissioners Ivo Batic (Miroslav Nemec) and Franz Leitmayr (Udo Wachveitl) are investigating in the monastery this time. Here they interrogate Sister Antonia (Maresi Riegner).
© BR / Roxy Film GmbH / Hendrik Heiden / ARD
To solve their latest case, the “Tatort” commissioners Batic and Leitmayr go to a nunnery – and discover all kinds of secrets behind the holy walls.
- 2 out of 5 points
- Nice to look at, unfortunately somewhat lengthy thriller from the monastery
What’s the matter?
The death of an auditor leads the Munich commissioners Ivo Batic (Miroslav Nemec) and Franz Leitmayr (Udo Wachtveitl) to a nunnery in the foothills of the Alps. The dead man had last checked the finances there. Did one of the nuns poison him with the hemlock? Or was it the caretaker of the monastery with whom he had an argument shortly before he left. The two investigators move into the monastery without further ado – and come across all sorts of inconsistencies behind the walls.
Why is the “crime scene” worthwhile?
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Christmas for 90 minutes, this is the place for you: “There are always miracles” is pure deceleration. In this “Tatort” episode, the clocks tick much more slowly than in the reality of December 2021. The viewer is offered wonderful pictures of the Carmelite monastery in Reisach, which is idyllically located in the Inn Valley. There are some really nice dialogues, like this one:
Leitmayr: “Have you ever noticed with the sisters: They are never all together. One is always missing.”
Batic: “It’s like putting your socks in the washing machine. One is always missing. And when it shows up again, it’s a miracle.”
What bothers?
As pleasant as the slowed-down pace of this film is, in the long run the case is pushed a little too slowly. You think you’re in an Agatha Christie film rather than a “crime scene”. In keeping with this, the commissioners round up all the nuns at the end to present the resolution of the case to the assembled group. The numerous clichés that are served up here are annoying: nuns who are not averse to sex, a weeping Madonna and the servant of God as a herbalist. Above all, there is the idea that behind the monastery walls there is one thing above all else: the lie.
The commissioners?
While the inspectors Batic and Leitmayr are billeting in the monastery and investigating there, Kalli Hammermann (Ferdinand Hofer) shamelessly exploits the storm-free booth: He moves his workplace to the bathing lake, where he only leaves the water for a short time, in order to do a few research assignments for his Colleagues to do.
Turn on or off?
A thriller in a religious setting could have been a good idea just before Christmas. The “Tatort” episode “There are always miracles” spoils the desire for Christmas mass. You can switch off with confidence.
Commissioners Batic and Leitmayr also determined in these cases: