Valentina Sauca
That’s why the “crime scene” is a form of therapy
“Tatort: Why”, on Sunday (May 1st, 2022) at 8:15 p.m. in the first: United in the pain of losing their son, the ex-couple gets closer again: Fritz Keller (Karl Markovics) and Marie Keller ( Valentina Sauca).
© BR/Hager Moss Film GmbH/Hagen Keller
Valentina Sauca plays a mother whose son was murdered in “Tatort: Why”. Here she explains why TV viewers love crime fiction.
In the new “crime scene” from Franconia, “Why” (May 1, Das Erste, 8:15 p.m.), a young man is brutally murdered for no apparent reason. The question of why not only concerns the inspectors Paula Ringelhahn (Dagmar Manzel, 63) and Felix Voss (Fabian Hinrichs, 48). The victim’s parents start looking for the killer themselves. The two are played by Valentina Sauca (54) and Karl Markovics (58). In an interview with spot on news, Sauca reveals how she approached this role and what she likes about the Franconian “crime scene”.
Dear Ms. Sauca, in Franconia’s “Tatort: Why” you play a mother who loses her son in a crime and does her own research. What attracted you to this role?
Valentina Sauca: At first I was very happy that I was offered such a role. And that in connection with this fantastic director, Max Färberböck. Karl Markovics is also my film husband – that was an incredible gift. There are also the great actors in the Franconian “crime scene”, Dagmar Manzel and Fabian Hinrichs, as well as in this episode Götz Otto and Ralf Bauer. In my opinion, the result is a “crime scene” masterpiece.
I had great respect for the topic. It’s difficult to keep that sort of thing at bay, but I think I managed that abstraction well in the end. What also appealed to me about the role is that a lot had to be about emotion and not about language. This woman I play doesn’t say much. And that’s how she communicates. I believe such a heavy loss is like a very great faint. Language is suddenly no longer available. How do you play this swoon? That was the attraction for me.
There are a lot of “Tatort” teams. What is special about the Franconia thriller?
Sauca: It’s a very balanced crime scene team. With good dialogues, interesting and funny moments. I also like the sophisticated storytelling. In my opinion, a successful “crime scene” needs a good story that is authentic and credible, and great actors. And all this is offered by the “Franconia” crime scene. I also like that they don’t shoot too many cases a year. I’m a fan of things that aren’t always present. It gives you the feeling that what’s coming is new and interesting.
Do you understand why German TV viewers love crime fiction so much?
Sauca: I was born in Romania. In this then communist country there were officially no crimes. Of course there were murders, but nobody knew anything about it. When I came to Germany and saw “Aktenzeichen XY” it really fascinated me. What is behind it is probably that everyone is afraid of something. When you suddenly find your fear reflected in a movie, it’s a form of therapy. I can watch this sorted out in 90 minutes and that gives hope. The fight between good and evil also always occupies people. Mostly on a different level, but he is present every day.
This is Valentina Sauca
Valentina Sauca was born in Bucharest and came to Germany with her parents as a child. In her youth she was a successful competitive swimmer. She later worked as a model in London and studied interior design in Los Angeles. In Paris, she moderated the lifestyle magazine “Chic” for the TV station Arte, completed an acting degree and studied psychoanalysis.
As an actress, she was seen in works such as “Les(ge)letten” (feature film by director Brigitte Drodtloff) or “In truth: In another life” (ZDF film series). She has also taken on roles in “SOKO”, “Polizeiruf 110” and “Tatort” productions.