Crime Scene Column: A Clause for the Film Crew | free press

by time news

Inclusion Rider sounds like a vehicle for small children to him, says actor Wotan Wilke Möhring. In fact, the “Inclusion Rider” is a contract clause that director Mia Spengler requested for the production of “Tatort,” which aired on Sunday. According to this clause, certain groups of the population must be involved in film production in front of and behind the camera by an appropriate percentage – this includes, for example, women, people of the third gender, people with physical or mental disabilities and people who are discriminated against because of their cultural identity. The NDR and the production company agreed.

The film “Schattenleben” with Commissioner Thorsten Falke, played by Wotan Wilke Möhring, and his colleague Julia Grosz (Franziska Weisz) leads to a left-wing feminist group in Hamburg. It’s about the willingness to use violence in the scene and that of the police. Difficult topic because people on both sides are quickly lumped together. One of the film’s strengths is showing that this black-and-white way of thinking rarely does people justice. And while some “crime scenes” like to say goodbye to reality, this film stays true to it: the story of undercover investigations and entanglements in the left-wing scene is based on real cases, and the filmmakers were also advised by a professor of police science.

It’s hard to say whether you can tell from the film that it was shot by a diverse team. In any case, it is well done: it carefully tries to be authentic, has light moments despite the serious topic, and is exciting and touching, especially at the end. But it’s also not important whether you can tell from a film’s diverse crew – what’s important is a good film and that people can work in their professions. Actress Elisabeth Hofmann, who plays the missing Ela, puts it in a nutshell. “Because of this type thing” – her Asian appearance – she didn’t get a foot in the film business. Either she was not German enough for roles or not Asian enough. So she concentrated on the theater – until she was asked for the role in “Schattenleben” “with a matter of course that I had never known before”. For the film, it simply doesn’t matter what Ela looks like.

It wasn’t easy with the clause, it meant more work, says Christian Granderath, head of the film department at NDR. But sometimes it is important to give an impetus to create greater awareness. Actor Möhring also advocates a quota “to initiate changes”.

Since filming “Tatort”, says director Spengler, she has been called regularly about “Inclusion Riders” and asked about her experiences and contacts. A good sign!

You may also like

Leave a Comment