“Who else should we take, Heiner? Hardly anyone your age is that fit.”

Even at 71, Heiner Lauterbach is an actor who is not afraid of physical roles. This can be seen in the Sky series “Tower Shadow” (from Friday, November 15th), which was based on the political thriller of the same name by Peter Grandl. The bestseller also received critical acclaim. Lauterbach plays Ephraim Zamir, a Jew living in Germany, who imprisons neo-Nazi attackers in his fortress-like house and lets the Internet decide whether they live or die. Meanwhile, police, media and an angry crowd gather around Zamir’s tower fortress. In the interview, Heiner Lauterbach explains why he is not afraid of a right-wing government in Germany, what he still lacks in German politics – and he talks about his fitness program.

teleschau: “Tower Shadow” is a bestseller film adaptation. Did you know the book before you were asked for the film project?

Heiner Lauterbach: My relationship with “Tower Shadow” is actually much older. The book author Peter Grandl once wrote me an email about ten years ago that said something like: “I would like to write a script with you in the editorial department.” Since I get requests like this all the time, I usually say that The senders are welcome to contact you again when the script is finished and, above all, the film is financed. Often the idea generators want me to approach investors – and I simply can’t do that. But Peter Grandl remained so persistent that my wife Viktoria said we could meet up sometime. He also lives across the street from Lake Starnberg. It wasn’t that complicated…

teleschau: What came out of this meeting?

Lauterbach: I recommended to Peter – I think we were already on a first-name basis – that he first write a novel. The political implications behind this thriller story are quite extensive and complex. Of course, there is a little more to the novel when it comes to the effects of right-wing violence, for example. But I think that’s okay too. As filmmakers, our primary job is to entertain people. We are not teachers, philosophers or politicians. In this respect, I have no problem with films or series condensing or simplifying stories.

“There is a clear majority that does not want a Germany like this”

teleschau: You play a mysterious man of Jewish faith who meets neo-Nazis, about whom at least one of the main characters is also quite ambivalent. So much ambiguity – is this still a pure thriller plot?

Lauterbach: Thriller doesn’t mean that characters can’t have complex psychology. My credo has always been: All people are like a moon that always has a dark side. No matter how beautifully illuminated it looks from the front. Nobody should forget this when judging others. The dark spots vary in size for us humans, but they are always there. It doesn’t matter whether the person is a monster or a great humanist with a noble spirit. As an actor, but also as a viewer, I love film characters that make me torn in my judgment of them. That’s what really interests us about movie characters.

teleschau: Have you met more people in your life with lots of dark moon spots, or were most of them bright, with just a bit of shadow?

Lauterbach: With many superficial encounters that you have, you don’t know it at first. I have the impression that I have met a lot of pleasant people in my life. I thought a lot about what makes a person a good person. And also how the opposite occurs. Especially in raising my own children. I always made it a point not to repeat the mistakes the man made in my upbringing. This was always very important to me. It started with the fact that I didn’t want to hit my children under any circumstances. But then you catch yourself making other mistakes. Working on your demons and taking action against them is a beautiful challenge in life. It’s like a film project. There is no script that cannot be improved. Except maybe “To be or not to be” by Ernst Lubitsch (laughs).

teleschau: “Tower Shadow” addresses the danger of a right-wing takeover of power in Germany. A very current question. How afraid are you of this?

Lauterbach: It is limited. It is always said: “Repel the beginnings” – and that is also true. On the other hand, I don’t think there is any danger that we will experience a total shift to the right or that a majority of Germans will vote for the extreme right. There is a clear majority that does not want a Germany like this. I believe that the strengthening of the extreme fringe can be explained by the traffic light policy, with which many people are dissatisfied. Of course you have to keep this in mind politically, like so many other things.

“Making good politics has become difficult today”

teleschau: What, for example?

Lauterbach: I believe that the indiscriminate immigration policy has led to the rise of extreme political parties and positions. The fact that hundreds of thousands of young, unemployed men are still flocking here is a problem for this society – regardless of your political stance on it. Anyone who is poor, is not allowed to work, is young and male – of course also develops the potential for violence. We have to think about how to regulate this differently. I am convinced of that, and I say that clearly and clearly. But we still have many other crises in Germany that need to be addressed – which I don’t see happening at the moment.

teleschau: What should have happened?

Lauterbach: Our life is the sum of its decisions. The sentence applies to our personal lives, but also to that of the nation. Many people now ignore how much politics and political decisions influence our personal lives. It would be good to be aware of this and elect politicians as decision-makers who also make the best decisions. We haven’t been able to do this for a while now. However, I admit: making good politics has become difficult today. Because there is so much lying and ultimately it’s all about maintaining power.

teleschau: In “Tower Shadow” there is a young person, almost a child, who fanatically devotes himself to the right ideas. Why is the revelation so well received?

Lauterbach: For the same reason why these ideas were so popular in Germany in the 1930s. Anyone who is disoriented, perhaps has no job, no money and little else to show for it, is of course waiting for the Savior. Someone who tackles things, sorts them out and gives people hope again. Germany for the Germans! The slogans from then and now hardly differ. Anyone who has a problem with self-esteem wants to be strengthened and perceived as valuable. The same principle applies to young men with an Islamic background who are seduced into violence by Salafists. In combination with Germany’s migration policy, this is of course a penalty for the right. It quickly seems as if they came up with this scenario themselves. There’s no better way to play anyone’s cards.

“I’m actually quite happy when I can sit in an armchair while working.”

teleschau: Let’s move on to another topic: physicality in old age. You play an elderly action hero and not for the first time. Are you enjoying these roles and are you as fit as you look at 71?

Lauterbach: I’m not explicitly looking for action roles. I’m actually quite happy when I can sit in an armchair while working. But the filmmakers come to me and say: “Who else should we use, Heiner?” At your age, hardly anyone is that fit.” Then I do it, and the physicality is part of the role. But it’s not like I’m keen on action roles. I find a beautiful chamber play where you look into each other’s eyes just as exciting.

teleschau: What does your fitness program look like?

Lauterbach: It depends a lot on my life situation. When I’m filming, it’s usually so intense that I can’t do much else except. Then I recently had Corona and had to take a break for three weeks. I was also due for knee surgery. It’s not like I train hard and non-stop. However, if everything is normal, I exercise for about an hour five times a week.

teleschau: What exactly do you do then?

Lauterbach: I have a fitness room at home. There is a treadmill, an elliptical trainer and also a bicycle. Of course I also do something for the muscles. This is particularly important as you get older because your muscles break down if you don’t do anything. This is also the cause of many illnesses and complaints – for many people of a certain age. When I’m traveling, I make sure I get to a hotel with a good gym. It used to be important to me that the bar was good (laughs). This is how times change. (tch)