Have a drink with Ben Becker!

Now he is reading “Apocalypse” in Munich

Created: 03/10/2022 16:26

By: Katja Kraft

Met at the bar of the Bayerischer Hof in Munich: actor Ben Becker and culture editor Katja Kraft.

© kjk

Ben Becker is on a reading tour with Joseph Conrad's "Apocalypse"!

On October 11, 2022, the actor will be making a stop at the Prinzregententheater in Munich.

We met him beforehand for a drink at the Bayerischer Hof.

A conversation at the hotel bar.

"Cheers, Katja," whispered in a typical Ben Becker voice.

The man has audibly emptied many a glass.

And because he makes no secret of it, the 57-year-old agrees to the idea of ​​not meeting for the classic interview, but for a drink at the bar in the Bayerischer Hof, where he is currently a guest.

Agents of other actors would gasp: alcohol in the interview?

We're not on "Ina's Night"!

What should people think?

Ben Becker doesn't think in such categories.

The eternal enfant terrible of the German cultural scene doesn't believe in political correctness.

On October 11, 2022, the actor will read from Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" in the Prinzregententheater (tickets: 089/ 21 85 19 70).

A conversation over beer and wine about doomsday mood, capitalism and the power of art.

You have Joseph Conrad's name tattooed on your arm.

Why?

Ben Becker:

He's just a great writer.

I read it when I was 20 like a boy reads adventure novels.

I fell in love with Joseph Conrad.

And thought it was cool to have a writer tattooed on my arm.

I found it better than AC/DC or ABBA.

Even though I was the world's biggest ABBA fan.

That sounds like a story in itself...

Ben Becker:

I also like Udo Jürgens.

Anyway.

It was only later that I realized how critically and precisely Conrad himself observed and questioned society in his adventure and romance novels.

That's why I decided to read it on stage.

In 1899 Joseph Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness.

Since then, humanity has not changed for the better.

So the old question: Can art change something?

Ben Becker:

No, not really.

Art can only ask questions, art can move something.

But on the other hand, that's a lot.

And can something change, on a small scale?

For example by cheering you up - like your Udo Jürgens...

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Ben Becker:

Art can definitely do that.

And that makes me happy to take others with me on a journey.

Even if it's not comfortable.

In this case it is a river trip with horror.

But it has an insane pull and confronts us with what is.

With what we would like to repress even today.

And actually mostly repress...

Ben Becker:

That's right, and thank God there's Günther Jauch on Mondays to repress.

I like to watch by the way.

That's nice too.

A little escapism.

Ben Becker:

A little goes.

Sometimes it's a little too much for me.

So I'm really happy that I and my stories exist.

Your role: getting us out of our comfort zone?

Ben Becker:

Yes, I would sign that.

I do this with great love, great fun.

subtle.

Met at the bar of the Bayerischer Hof in Munich: actor Ben Becker and culture editor Katja Kraft.

© kjk

Where does your sense for this come from?

Ben Becker:

There must be some communication need.

Even as a child I used to act out my father's plays at home.

There was always this urge: “Look!

I painted something, I wrote something, I made something, what do you think of that?” That takes courage.

Even today?

Ben Becker:

Yes, of course.

You're nervous before you open the poetry album and say, "I wrote something just for myself last night.

What do you think of that?” It's also a bit embarrassing.

In this respect, stage fright is fully there.

That catapults you forward.

Forces you to take that one step.

I've often seen it with my father.

I've seen: now he's behind the stage - what happens to the one on the meters into the limelight, how does he change?

A bold step.

You also have to go back the step.

How difficult is that?

Especially after "Apocalypse"?

Ben Becker:

Well, I'm not the type of person who feels naked chickens or loses myself in the preparation for a role like this.

The point is to stay in control.

There are such crazy little actors among actors who can't get out of their roles.

But I can't rage through the Bayerischer Hof like a lunatic at night just because I played a psychopath in the evening.

Supposedly there was a Superman actor who jumped off the roof because he thought he could fly.

That's going a little too far for me.

When I'm done with "Apocalypse", I've concentrated for an hour and a half and that's fine too.

Eventually the ship lands in the harbor and I go home.

Ben Becker.

©Jens Wazel

Even without the reading I feel doomsday thoughts.

Ben Becker:

Who doesn't?

We're both not alone there.

Because we were spoiled in terms of crises since the prosperous years of the 1950s.

And now the baker is wondering if he can still afford to bake.

This is very vicious and existential.

Employed.

What can you do?

What can we learn from the "apocalypse"?

Ben Becker:

As an artist, I'm not here to give answers.

Let Mr. Habeck do that or Mr. Hofreiter, they think they can give it.

I don't know why they think they can do that.

What I miss with them is the sensitivity for the questions.

Would artists be better politicians?

Ben Becker:

Yes.

Helge Schneider as Federal Chancellor?

Ben Becker:

That would be great.

Because artists are more empathetic, more creative?

Ben Becker:

Yes, I think more would be possible.

more justice.

After all, Helge Schneider didn't start his job to drive a big Mercedes.

The problem is that we have many people who are solely focused on their own advancement.

I'm drifting...

You are allowed to drift.

Ben Becker:

I am a critic of capitalism.

That connects me to Joseph Conrad.

I don't believe in that kind of coexistence.

Rather?

Ben Becker:

There are Native American rules that say everything is round.

So you don't have to come over to America like John Wayne and shoot all the buffalo, but the Indians found: We need a buffalo and we can live on that for a long time.

Makes sense right?

How many square meters do I actually want to live in?

Am I really better with more?

You can also say at some point: No, I don't need that.

I have been traveling to Sri Lanka for many years.

I have family friends there.

grandmother, grandpa, grandson and so on.

Ultimately, you're at home in a Third World family - and that's okay too.

There is warmth, there you are part of the family.

I don't need Hui Buh, trallala.

We know that, but we still strive for more.

Ben Becker:

Humans are just a bit stupid.

At the same time, he understands what's going on.

That's why I don't have to press the tube with "Apokalypse".

What did my father always say?

"Just read what it says." I got that.

Read what's there, that's enough.

That's exhausting enough, you don't need to get a slap in the face from Mr. Becker.

People listen spellbound for 90 minutes even without show effects?

Ben Becker:

I try my best.

And if someone starts fumbling around with a candy wrapper downstairs, then...

... there is the slap in the face.

Ben Becker:

No, it's not like that.

I can wait.

That's a lot meaner.

Then 600 people look at one.

And then I nod and smile and say, "Do we have it?

Good?

Then go on.” And because people know that from me, no one brings sweets with them anymore.