“Tatort” repetition from Weimar
For a change, no jokes – in this “crime scene” nothing is what it seems
In this New Year’s “crime scene” from Weimar, investigators Kira Dorn (Nora Tschirner) and Lessing (Christian Ulmen) are rarely seen together in front of the camera. That’s for a reason.
© MDR/MadeFor/Steffen Junghans / ARD
Didn’t the “crime scenes” always come from Weimar, where people fooled around and made jokes? In the episode “The Fine Spirit”, the crime series about Christian Ulmen and Nora Tschirner dared to do something new on New Year’s Day 2021 – and was convincing all along the line.
- 5 out of 5 points
- Why not like this? “The Fine Spirit” is the best “Tatort” episode from Weimar.
What’s the matter?
A money messenger is murdered in downtown Weimar. Coincidentally, the commissioners Lessing (Christian Ulmen) and Kira Dorn (Nora Tschirner) are nearby – and take up the pursuit of the perpetrator. However, he manages to escape – and also injures Lessing in a shootout. So this time his wife has to find the culprit on her own – and comes across a strange security company called Geist Security. Its owner, John Geist (Ronald Zehrfeld), seems more interested in parrots than the safety of his employees and clients.
Why is this “crime scene” worthwhile?
The whole time you’re watching, you get the feeling that something isn’t quite right here. After an hour it becomes clear what it is: “The Fine Spirit” is in the best tradition of so-called “brainfuck” movies. Films like “The Sixth Sense” or Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island”, which play with the viewer’s perception and leave them in the dark about reality for as long as possible. That such a “Tatort” episode comes from Weimar, otherwise the home of the well-groomed joke, is a nice surprise.
What bothers?
A security company whose boss is interested in parrots. A detective who gets into bed with the suspect. A more than confused criminal case. This “crime scene” doesn’t make it easy for the viewer to stick with it.
The commissioners?
At first, Lessing wants to think about a second child with his wife. But for the rest of this episode, Kira Dorn is largely on her own. On the other hand, she gets support from her boss Kurt Stich (Thorsten Merten), who announces at the beginning that he is leaving the department – and thus sparks discussions about his successor.
Turn on or off?
If the Weimar “crime scenes” were mostly silly up to that point, this case showed a different side. And that’s meant as a compliment. Turn on.
The “Tatort” episode “Der Feine Geist” was first broadcast on New Year’s Day 2021. ARD repeats the case on Friday, October 7 at 11 p.m.
Commissioners Lessing and Dorn previously investigated these cases: