What is right And what is justice? Hardly anyone takes these questions apart as masterfully as the bestselling author and lawyer Ferdinand von Schirach. This is also the case in his new television project “Feinde”, which runs on January 3rd in Das Erste at 8:15 pm.
by Julia Jakob
The highlight this time: The criminal case – the kidnapping of a teenage girl – is told from two perspectives. One film follows the investigating officer, the other the defense attorney. And at the end of the day, the audience can decide whether it was dealt with correctly.
Two films tell the story of a kidnapping and the arrest of a suspect from different perspectives. more
–
–
–
–
After the first scene, the narrative paths separate
The kidnapping scene is the same in both films, but shortly afterwards their narrative paths separate. “Enemies – Against Time” follows the investigative commissioner Nadler, played by Bjarne Mädel. Nadler quickly identified a suspect and fears for the life of the kidnapped girl. He sees only one way to get information: violence.
Real kidnapping case Jakob von Metzler as a role model
The model for the scenario was the real kidnapping of the banker’s son Jakob von Metzler. At that time, then Vice-Police President Wolfgang Daschner forced the suspect to testify with the threat of violence. Daschner then had to answer criminally. In the film his name is Nadler – and actor Bjarne Mädel can absolutely understand his behavior: “The policeman I play is an example of all parents. They would do anything to save their child.”
Crime in the first, judicial drama in the third programs
Two films tell the story of a kidnapping and the arrest of a suspect from different perspectives. more
–
–
–
–
Defense lawyer Biegler – played by Klaus Maria Brandauer – sees it very differently. His perspective entitled “Feinde – Das Geständnis” will also be broadcast at 8:15 pm – on all third channels. It tells a completely different story. The film in the first tells a crime thriller, the film in the third programs a judicial drama. “There is one crucial point that got me thinking. It is the lawyer’s question: Who decides in a specific case whether one can use force to obtain information and whether one is not allowed to?” The film makes it clear that a door to abuse of power and arbitrariness can be opened quickly. “We don’t want to live in a country like that either,” said Mädel.
In the end, the audience is asked: acquittal or not?
What both films and Schirach’s stories in general always make up: The question of law and justice. Regardless of which version the viewers choose, both perspectives are extremely exciting. Only a few scenes are duplicated – such as the kidnapping or the conversation with the parents – otherwise each version is its own story. In the end, regardless of whether you’ve seen the crime thriller or the judicial drama, the audience is asked again: Should Nadler be acquitted or convicted?
