The Tatort: A Historical Archive and a Crime Scene at the Humboldt Forum
The long-running German crime series "Tatort" not only provides gripping entertainment but also serves as an invaluable historical archive. The latest episode, "Vier Leben" (Four Lives), broadcast on RBB-Redaktion, offers a glimpse into the recently opened Humboldt Forum in Berlin.
This controversial reconstruction of the former Stadtschloss, spearheaded by a foundation with alleged connections to right-wing milieus, embodies the restorative historical politics pursued after German reunification in 1990. However, in the "Tatort," the building’s rooftop restaurant transforms from a cultural landmark into a crime scene when it becomes the target of snipers.
The episode opens with a man named Jürgen Weghorst (Philipp Lind) engaged in contrasting phone conversations with two women, Ulrike and Lisa. His abruptly cut short by a fatal gunshot from a long distance. Weghorst, a politician and lobbyist, becomes the first victim in a complex case involving multiple suspects and motives.
Chief Inspector Karow (Mark Waschke) and his colleague Bonard (Corinna Harfouch) initially delve into Weghorst’s lobbying activities, but this lead proves to be a dead end. A breakthrough comes through Lamin Leroy Gibba’s performance as an assistant from the Lebensmittelwirtschaftsverband, a role he expertly embodies with an endearing sense of awkwardness.
Through Gibba’s character, the investigators are steered towards Afghanistan. Weghorst, along with Ulrike, had been instrumental in securing a Bundeswehr aircraft during the chaotic days leading up to the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. However, the plane’s departure was delayed, leaving behind stranded local German aid workers.
Enter Soraya Barakzay (Pegah Ferydoni), an Afghan aid worker who lost her two children during that fateful evacuation. Her grief becomes the driving force behind the revenge plot hatched by Bundeswehr soldier Stephan Unge (Robin Sondermann), who harbors a secret love for Soraya.
"Vier Leben" skillfully weaves together a diverse cast of characters connected to Weghorst’s multifaceted activities. The use of snipers adds a metropolitan dimension to the film, allowing for breathtaking aerial shots of Berlin’s iconic landmarks. Director Mark Monheim’s deft handling of these elements maintains the episode’s gripping tension throughout.
In addition to its crime-solving narrative, "Vier Leben" also offers a subtle critique of the Humboldt Forum. The building’s imposing presence as a symbol of historical revisionism ironically becomes a backdrop for a conspiracy fueled by a historical injustice. The episode thus invites viewers to reflect not only on the interconnectedness of crime and politics but also on the complex and sometimes troubling ways in which history is shaped and used.
