"Tatort" Dortmund: Jörg Hartmann as a lone investigator

Created: 01/13/2023 17:24

Marked by grief: After the death of Martina Bönisch, Faber (Jörg Hartmann) struggles with his job.

© Photo: ARD

Nobody is as shaken by fate as Inspector Faber from Dortmund, played by Jörg Hartmann.

Wife and daughter are already dead - and then Martina Bönisch (Anna Schudt) dies in his arms, the esteemed and ultimately loved colleague.

We spoke to Hartmann (53) about his first "crime scene" as a lone investigator.

You wrote the screenplay for the new episode of your "Tatort".

Did you want to retain control of how Faber and the team will continue after Martina Bönisch's death?

Jörg Hartmann:

No, not at all.

I had an initial idea for the story I wanted to tell five years ago.

Of course we didn't know anything about Anna's departure.

When it became clear that she was leaving, I first had to rethink.

However, the core of the story, which tells of loss, of people and places that disappear, has remained - and then it also fitted perfectly with the first episode after Anna's exit.

Martina Bönisch remains present, if only because Faber is ill from sheer grief and cannot work.

Why was it important to you that she continue to appear in this episode?

Hartmann:

Well, together with Faber, Martina Bönisch was the decisive figure in this “crime scene”.

We told the subtle love story between the two over many episodes - until it seemed to come to fruition in the last part.

So, at the height of her feelings, this tragedy happened.

It's unthinkable that after all this we just carry on as if nothing had happened.

Especially in our format, no one would have forgiven us.

What do you mean: Especially in our format?

Hartmann:

In our “crime scene” we always serialized the inner workings of the inspectors.

I think that the viewers look at us consciously because they like this horizontal storytelling.

That's also a pound that you can grow with.

Once you've decided to tell the story like a novel, you can eventually reap everything you've sown in terms of dramaturgical tricks and ideas.

Apart from that, Bönisch is simply irreplaceable.

Could you understand Anna Schudt's decision to leave the "crime scene"?

Were you disappointed?

Maybe even angry?

Hartmann:

I found out from the editor at the time and was a bit shocked.

I had to process that first.

On the other hand, Anna had always said: In any event, she'll be with us for no more than ten years.

Then you're amazed at how quickly time flies - but she pulled it off.

And, importantly, she didn't leave because she felt uncomfortable.

On the contrary, saying goodbye hurt us all pretty badly.

She wanted to free herself from a possible stamp, create space to be able to play new roles again.

So I can totally understand her decision.

Only: Now we have to deal with the consequences.

However - Faber, Pawlak and Rosa numb their grief with a clever intoxication.

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Hartman:

Yes.

(Laughs) I find it logical that they need to numb their pain.

Above all, I wanted the three of them to get together and celebrate properly.

Simply dancing out their grief, all their legacy, excessively.

There is something life-affirming about that for me – despite the heavy alcohol consumption and even if you have a hangover the next day.

(Laughs.)

You have always worked intensively on the books and the development of the character Faber.

How important is the realism of this role to you?

Or to put it another way: Do you think there is such a Faber in real life somewhere?

Hartman:

Above all, I believe that police officers generally have many, many packages to carry.

This can be personal destinies or the burdens that result from the job.

And that this is dealt with psychologically – that is certainly not going so smoothly in this country.

But of course in “Tatort” we are always in the realm of fiction, we exaggerate, we exaggerate dramaturgically, and I agree that Faber has suffered a lot in life.

Of course, he always wanted to tell the character authentically and believably.

Of course, one can ask oneself whether he would still be on duty in real life or whether he would have been suspended long ago.

But my god – what are we talking about?!

There are enough other commissioners who are more normal.

I think if you get involved with Faber and the "crime scene" Dortmund,

The interview was conducted by Stefanie Thyssen.

The "crime scene"

runs on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. on the first.