From BZ/dpa
Back on the road at over 60? As the new “Tatort” commissioner Susanne Bonard, Corinna Harfouch convincingly shows that this works. Even if you find something difficult.
A few years ago, Corinna Harfouch could not have imagined joining a crime scene. “Because I thought it was too close a bond that took too much time,” says the actress of the German Press Agency. Now Harfouch is the new commissioner in Berlin’s “Tatort”.
As Susanne Bonard, she will investigate in the future together with Robert Karow (Mark Waschke) in the capital. She makes her long-announced debut in the double episode “Nothing but the truth”, which shows the first on Easter Sunday (April 9) and Easter Monday (April 10) at 8:15 p.m.
When she was offered the role, she thought it was funny, says Harfouch. “At that point in time at my age, it was a surprise.” Harfouch is 68. She is one of the most famous actresses in Germany, and she was just seen in the lovable film adaptation of Mariana Leky’s bestseller “What you can see from here” in the cinema. She was interested in the offer. “And I said: If you can explain to me why this woman suddenly appeared there, then I’d be happy to take a look at it.”
That succeeded. Susanne Bonard, 62, former LKA size, has been teaching at the police academy for twelve years. She gives lectures and is considered a luminary (“Saint Susanne”), whose standard work everyone knows. Bonard is happily married and lives in a beautiful country villa with his husband, son and dog. A good life.
Then she discovers right-wing tendencies at the police academy, which also involves the director’s son. Bonard wants to deal with it publicly, but her boss blocks it – and offers her early retirement. At the same time, Bonard receives a desperate call from her former student, Rebecca Kästner. Bonard misjudges the situation – and hangs up. The next day, the police officer is found dead in her home.
Everything points to suicide. When Karow finds his four-year-old son in the garden, he doesn’t believe it. Bonard is also certain: That was murder. She shows up at Karow’s office and tells him that she will be on the case. “After that I’ll be gone again.” Karow is taken by surprise – he doesn’t seem enthusiastic. “When was the last time you had a gun in your hand?” A legitimate question, as it turns out later. At first the pistol falls out of the hand of the new colleague.
Chief inspectors in action: Corinna Harfouch as Susanne Bonard and Mark Waschke as Robert Karow investigate together in Berlin Photo: dpa picture radio
Karow suspects the husband. But then the new team finds out: The security police officer had testified against colleagues who had held a boy because of his skin color. A clear case of racial profiling. Karow and Bonard only gradually realize that there is much more at stake than a few right-wing extremist police officers.
The new “crime scene” is worth seeing for several reasons. The story is told in an exciting way – and in view of the frightening cases of right-wing extremism and racism in the police environment, it is not too far-fetched. In its dimensions, however, the fictitious goes far beyond the known.
Corinna Harfouch’s entry as Susanne Bonard is convincing. Her character, but also that of her husband, judge Kaya Kaymaz, and her son Tom, who at 25 still lives at home and keeps dead animals in the kitchen fridge for his studies, offer a lot of room for development.
In the role, it was important to her that Susanne Bonard’s focus was on her work, “and that she didn’t get lost in any private conflicts,” says Harfouch. “I don’t want to say so much on the side. I also think it’s nice that she has a harmonious home, where you deal with each other as equals, where you have a sense of humor and enjoy life.”
The costume is also important to her. “I wanted her to be a woman who was incredibly keen on dressing as a woman, as I understand it in my old-fashioned way. I just felt like doing it.” Bonard quickly realizes that this can be problematic in the new job. So you can see her in high heels, which clack suspiciously loudly.
However, she could do without scenes in which she has to run. “I can’t really run anymore, it’s just not possible, my hips hurt too much,” says Harfouch. It would be better for my colleague to do that.