2024-04-16 06:00:00
The actress talks about filming “Murder with a View” in the countryside, portraying police officers in the television play and her penchant for being a series junkie
“Murder with a view.”
The darkly humorous crime series “Murder with a View” struck a chord with a large fan base between 2008 and 2015. In 2022 the format was restarted. The focus is now on Cologne Commissioner Marie Gabler, who was transferred to a rural office in the Eifel as a punishment. Katharina Wackernagel (45, “Stralsund”) embodies the skeptical new boss. From April 16th, the first will show 13 spectacular new cases from Hengasch, interrupted by a football break, every Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. Episodes 1 to 7 will be available in the ARD media library from April 16th. We spoke to Katharina Wackernagel.
Free Press: Ms. Wackernagel, did you enjoy returning to Hengasch or do you, as a self-confessed city dweller, feel just as out of place in the Eifel as Marie Gabler?
Katharina Wackernagel:(laughs) I have to honestly say that it is really wonderful to work there. We had picturesque landscapes and were also lucky with the weather. It is of course much more pleasant to shoot in the country than in the big city. Nobody in Cologne wants to film anymore, neither in Berlin. This is always uncomfortable. The village where we film Hengasch is the absolute opposite. We were welcomed so openly and warmly! It was very pleasant work and I was happy to return there. But I also have to honestly admit that after almost six months in Hengasch, I was very happy to be back in Berlin and in the big city. I still won’t be a Hengascherin, just like Marie Gabler.
FP: Many city dwellers are interested in strange stories from the provinces. Does this encourage the audience in their urban lifestyle?
Wackernagel: I think it has more to do with the fact that this isolated universe, this capsule in which village life takes place, is attractive to everyone because it excludes the outside world. Everything that is happening around us in this world – the wars, the terror, the climate change, all the daily events in reality – is left out of these formats. Nevertheless, you can easily identify with the characters. It’s not a fairytale film or science fiction. You stay in this world, but you are still in your own space capsule. This is very seductive. In addition, this crime constellation has the effect of being able to help investigate strange events. We really have 13 very absurd murder cases in the new season. The appeal lies in seeing what else you can come up with now. How absurd can things get in the country? This is probably the reason why the format is so well received and popular.
FP: The combination of murder and comedy has always been very popular in film and television. Do viewers like to laugh in the face of death?
Wackernagel: This probably has something to do with the fact that it’s easier to process the horror if you make jokes around it. I also find it more understandable in our format than, for example, crime scene detectives standing next to a corpse with coffee. At a crime scene you feel the reality closer, the cases go through your heart and soul. I don’t get along so well when there’s comedy involved. But if the story itself is structured that way, it takes away some of the horror. At the same time, you still look into the dark corners of people.
FP: Have you ever felt like a victim in your job?
Wackernagel: Yes, this happens all the time in our industry. It also has something to do with the power structure, which is also present in our creative field. There is a strong hierarchy. At the same time, it’s coupled with this creativity, but also with a feeling that feels like a family at its best. Which it still isn’t, because this hierarchy still exists. Wherever there is power, there is always a temptation for those in this position of power to rise above boundaries. This happens all the time in our industry and I hope that something changes in the future. It is the first step to talk about it more openly. But it will still take time for this to change completely.
The boundaries in our industry are perhaps even more blurred than in other professional groups because our job always involves being very open and making ourselves vulnerable. As an actor you want to stay open, but you have to be careful with that. It’s a fine line. I still have to say that the positive experiences in my career outweigh the negatives. But I think it’s extremely important to observe how younger colleagues are doing. I try to be so open to people that I’m there as a contact person if something happens.
FP: Do you have a certain level of criminal energy yourself? Have you ever had something stolen?
Wackernagel: When I was a teenager I actually stole lipsticks and stuff like that from time to time. I don’t even know exactly why. It was probably some kind of test of courage or something. It wasn’t that I didn’t have pocket money. Of course I put that aside, I wouldn’t think of it now. (laughs) Otherwise, I would say that my criminal energy is within really narrow limits. Of course, I also have a job in which I can try out a lot. If you’re allowed to play as a job and slip into other characters, get into fights, lie and get drunk, then maybe you’ll be a little calmer as a private person. You have your playing field in front of the camera.
FP: In Germany, police officers traditionally like to be portrayed as somewhat inexperienced, starting with Punch and Judy shows and children’s films. Do you think this encourages a certain lack of respect for the uniform?
Wackernagel: That would be generalizing too much. There are also many negative reports about the police, especially when it comes to the right-wing radical corner. I don’t believe that this certain skepticism or reticence towards the police has anything to do with the funny police officers on television. I think that with these funny murder cases they try to make the viewer feel a little less frightened if they can laugh about them. If you mock an authority figure a little, it gives you a brief relief. I think that what keeps coming to light about the police has given rise to skepticism. Nevertheless, there is of course completely absurd violence against the police. When you see what happened here in Berlin on New Year’s Eve against the police and fire brigade… That is of course totally absurd and terrible.
FP: At the beginning, the village police officers in the series are afraid for their jobs. Were there phases in your career when you didn’t know whether it would continue?
Wackernagel: This happens again and again in every actor’s life. No reassuring words from people around you will help. It’s just a very unstable job. On the one hand, it’s of course great to be so free and to always be faced with new challenges. But sometimes it’s a strange feeling to be facing a new year and not knowing at all where it’s going to take you, what kind of projects are coming or whether any are coming at all. This has been with me all my life.
FP: Are you a serial junkie yourself?
Wackernagel: When I’m impressed by a series, it’s very difficult to stop. I’ve just started the third season of Ted Lasso. I had to get up very early today and force myself to turn off the TV last night. I like to let myself be completely drawn into this maelstrom and really want to know what happens next. If I stick with it, then I’ll be self-indulgent. (laughs)
FP: Are you good at looking at yourself on the screen?
Wackernagel: If it’s a project that I’m happy with, then I’m happy to watch it. If I have the feeling that I have already been dissatisfied at work, it is sometimes difficult for me. You are then even more at the mercy of the project. Maybe the editing or the music isn’t what you imagined. Then it’s difficult. But in general I actually watch all the films I’ve appeared in.
FP Marie Gabler’s relationship with her sister is not the best. You and your brother also seem to complement each other very well artistically, right?
Wackernagel: My brother and I have a great relationship both personally and professionally and get along well. We filmed “Last Exit Schinkenstraße” together last year, this series with Heinz Strunk and Marc Hosemann. That was really a lot of fun. It is definitely on my plan for us to tackle another project together.
FP: Are you planning a new directing venture?
Wackernagel: Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can talk about specifically yet, but it’s a big dream of mine to keep going. With my debut “When Flies Dream” I created a small anarchist work. I think I’m now ready to adapt to the more classic film and television rules. I really want to continue doing this. aws
To person
Katharina Wackernagel was born on October 15, 1978 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
Wackernagel made her debut in the 1990s, and since then she has appeared in a variety of productions, including films such as “The Miracle of Bern” (2003) and “The Baader Meinhof Complex” (2008), as well as television series such as “Bloch” ( 2002-2008) and “The Adlon – A Family Saga” (since 2013).
In 2021, Wackernagel took on the leading role of Inspector Marie Gabler in the new edition of the humorous crime series “Murder with a View”, which was broadcast in March and April 2022 with six new episodes.
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