Caroline Link's series "Safe" starts on ZDFneo: The Oscar winner about the joy of filming

Created: 07/11/2022 17:32

By: Katja Kraft

"I find it easy to communicate with children," says Oscar-winning director Caroline Link.

You can see that in their films.

And the appearances on the red carpet like here in Munich in her film "When Hitler stole the pink rabbit" with the little leading actress Riva Krymalowski.

© API (c) Daniel Hinz

Caroline Link has written cinema history with her films.

Now she's daring to do the short format for the first time: her phenomenal series "Safe" about the work of child therapists is now starting on ZDFneo.

In an interview, Link explains why she enjoys working with children so much.

2019 was her year again.

The Oscar winner (2003 as best foreign language film for “Nowhere in Africa”) was once again a great success with “The boy has to go to the fresh air”, the film adaptation of the Hape Kerkeling autobiography of the same name, which was released in cinemas at the end of 2018.

She swept away prize after prize, and the critics poured out praise.

The next success followed in 2020: With Judith Kerr’s “When Hitler Stole the Pink Rabbit”, the director took on another novel.

And now her first series is starting: With “Safe” Caroline Link once again succeeds in a work in which the young actors are also enthusiastic.

In our last conversation, Link told us how she always manages to do this.

Do you already have possible success in mind when making films?

Sure, that too!

Whereby the fact that Hape Kerkeling is so happy with the film made me particularly happy with all the prizes for “The boy has to go to the fresh air”.

He had given me all the freedom.

When he then said to me in the editing room: "You have no idea how close you came to the truth...", I was very touched.

You once asked: "Stop always talking about my Oscar award!" Because awards are not that important to you?

Yes, I'm really happy about every single one.

It's just that it's been a really long time since the Oscars.

And when people say, "Oh, your best film was 'Beyond the Silence!'" I think: That was my first!

It's a bit depressing when nothing good seems to have happened after that.

In fact, that's not true at all.

Her last film "When Hitler stole the pink rabbit" enchants, among other things, with the little leading actress.

What do you think of these talented child actors?

Well, of course it's not like the kids come in the door and they can do anything.

Of course they bring a lot with them.

The question then is: how do you get a convincing result?

And?

I've really been extremely lucky with the two children, because they both have something that you can't stage - and that's charisma.

Otherwise you have to tell children very precisely what you want.

Down to the last detail.

It's a very different way of working than with adults.

Now Julius, who played little Hape, is getting a lot of celebrations.

Do you give your charges any advice on how to deal with fame?

Yes, I always try to make it clear to the parents from day one that this is most likely a one-off event.

None of “my” children made a huge acting career after that.

It wasn't that they failed, it was that they didn't want to anymore.

I am still in contact with many of the children.

Children change very quickly, two years later they are already in puberty.

There you have a different charisma, you are no longer cute, but something completely different is required.

It is usually the mothers who want a career more than the children.

You once said that you are particularly happy when friends say to you: This is another typical Caroline film.

What is typical Caroline Link?

I think it's made up of the details.

For example, when Anna says to the housekeeper in "When Hitler stole the pink rabbit": "Your lips are like a St. Bernard!" And she means that very sweetly - that's very much me, for example.

That grab when you like someone.

The direct language.

How I look at childhood is recognized by people who know me well.

When Hitler Stole the Pink Rabbit was an upbeat film to start the new decade.

Yes, I am very happy and grateful that I can work in this profession and make films.

Especially when I see women my age who are fed up with their job and think about how they can start doing less.

Even if my child leaves the house now, I have something that fills me up so I won't get bored!

You could have imagined becoming a child therapist like the main characters of your series "Safe".

Do you think you have helped many children through your films?

I don't know if a single film can change so much.

Maybe if kids have a chance to talk to someone about it afterwards.

I think young people need someone they trust to get them back on track when they're drifting left and right and don't know where to go.

It is good if they then have someone who can talk to them, put a good book in their hands or help them to feel successful.

Times are tough.

Young people quickly feel worthless.