By Markus Tschiedert
The Berlin actor plays the mean father in Luc Besson’s new film “DogMan”. He spoke to the BZ about his role, strong feelings and where he prefers to escape from the stress in Kreuzberg.
Clemens Schick (51) achieved world fame as a villain in the Bond film “Casino Royale”. Even though the native Swabian also shone in other roles (“Transit”), he still loves the villains (“Kidnapping Stella”).
The actor is particularly nasty in “DogMan” (now in cinemas) as a father who lets his son grow up in a dog kennel. Instead of eating him, the four-legged friends team up with the boy and exact terrible revenge. We met Clemens Schick at the Hotel Orania in Kreuzberg.
BZ: In the film you play a mean father who locks his son up with dogs. What is your personal relationship with dogs?
Clemens Schick: My relationship with animals is very, very good. I was always in the country a lot as a child. Animals and nature are important to me.
Do you have pets?
No, my life is too unstable. I wouldn’t live up to the responsibility.
Do you get these negative feelings about your film role from your own experiences?
I don’t rate it at all. I actually think anger is a good feeling. It can give you drive. Unlike hate, which is destructive. But as an actor I can draw on all living feelings.
What does it do to you when you look at the current world situation? Are you more likely to feel anger or fear?
There’s a lot that’s worrying you right now. Very much. That’s why our film perhaps comes at the right time. Because DogMan is actually a superhero, but his body, soul and heart are broken. And because his best friends are all these dogs, it’s a film that’s just good for you.
Why do you think that?
It’s like a fairy tale. You are transported into a dream world. When I saw the film for the first time in Venice at the film festival, I realized how happy it made me. DogMan feeds on his anger, but he manages to stay alive and fight for the good, he doesn’t become bitter. There’s something romantic about that.
What about your plans to start your own film project?
My first script is finished. It’s due to go into production next year and now I’m writing my second film. But I don’t want to say more about it. I’ve learned to talk about things when they’re done. All I can say is that I am very happy that I discovered writing.
Isn’t that also very lonely?
But I love solitude and retreating into nature. I have just finished filming the film “The Investigation” about the 1964 Auschwitz trials in Frankfurt. Afterwards I drove to Venice for the premiere of “DogMan”, and on the way back to Berlin I took a break in the Alps. I went hiking for three days in the mountains. That’s what I need, the balance, the peace and the concentration.
How do you feel about the noisy Berlin, where you live right in the middle?
I still have a second home in the Uckermark, where I often retreat. But I don’t want to miss Kreuzberg in my life either.