By Sebastian Bauer
Even the sun gave him her last escort. For a man whom friends and companions describe as always friendly, warm-hearted and sensitive.
Screenwriter Wolfgang Kohlhaase (1931-2022) was buried in the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery on Saturday. The creator of films such as “Solo Sunny” (1980) and “The Silence After the Shot” (2000) died on October 5th.
Actor and Film Academy President Ulrich Matthes (63) comforts Kohlhaase’s widow Emöke Pöstenyi (80) Photo: DAVIDS/Christina Kratsch
“I liked him twice over. First as a fantastic screenwriter and then as a friendly person with an incredible amount of heart,” said the actor and BZ culture award winner Ulrich Matthes (63) to the BZ Nadja Uhl (50), with Kohlhaase works such as “Summer in front of the balcony” (2005). celebrated success, says: “I owe him two of my most important roles. When you speak his lyrics, you take on a whole new worldview.”
At the funeral, director Matti Geschonneck (70) sang a song from the Kohlhaase film “Mama, I live” (1977).
With tears in his eyes and a brittle voice, director and long-term cooperation partner Andreas Dresen (59) recalled in his speech how he grew up with Kohlhaase’s films, which “shaped the cinema and the world”.
Director Andreas Dresen (59) made three films with Kohlhaase and became a close friend Photo: DAVIDS/Christina Kratsch
And alluding to the screenwriter’s ambitions as a hobby boxer: “Sudden knockout, you weren’t even counted. Wolfgang, it’s Saturday. Actually, you should be in training now.”
Director Volker Schlöndorff (83, right) shot “The Silence after the Shot” (2000) with a Kohlhaase script Photo: DAVIDS/Christina Kratsch
The coffin was buried to music from “Solo Sunny”, and Kohlhaase’s widow Emöke Pöstenyi (80) was comforted with hugs and warm words.
The actors Alexander Scheer (46, left) and Sylvester Groth (64) mourn at the open grave Photo: DAVIDS/Christina Kratsch
Hollywood star Sylvester Groth (64, “Inglourious Basterds”), who started his career with Kohlhaase’s “Der Stay” (1982), said to the BZ: “It started for me after this film. I can’t believe Wolfgang is gone.”
Former Governing Mayor Walter Momper (77) with his wife Anne (78) Photo: DAVIDS/Christina Kratsch
But Wolfgang Kohlhaase’s humanity will survive in his works, Berlin’s former governor Walter Momper (77) is convinced: “His films are like life. But with a large dose of wit.”
Numerous companions follow the coffin to music by Shostakovich and from the film “Solo Sunny” (1980) Photo: DAVIDS/Christina Kratsch
The scriptwriter was laid out next to his photo in the chapel of the Dorotheenstadt cemetery Photo: DAVIDS/Christina Kratsch