The “Zurich thriller” with Christian Kohlund in a double pack
Published: Monday, Dec 2nd 2024, 16:30
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The Zurich police don't know what to do with a particularly gruesome series of murders. The unconventional lawyer Borchert is supposed to help with his "off-the-wall thinking". And he succeeds.
If that's not a cracking start to the next "Zurich crime thriller": right in the first few minutes, the police detective Captain Furrer (Pierre Kiwitt) can be seen almost naked against the light at the window, fascinated by a solar eclipse. But it was only a flashback in time. When the crime thriller arrives in the present, Furrer is tense and perplexed by a sinister series of murders. As always, the star of the series has to step up: Christian Kohlund as lawyer Thomas Borchert.
Offside thinking
Four murders in ten days, followed by two more - Furrer has no choice but to reluctantly call in Borchert. He is supposed to help him solve the case, "with whatever you've got there, with your absurd thinking", he says desperately.
Kohlund explains the "offbeat thinking" as follows: "The point is that Borchert doesn't take anything for granted," he tells the German Press Agency. "He is a doubter, questions everything and his doubts lead him to investigate: That is the beginning of all wisdom."
The role of the once corrupt lawyer now fighting for justice was tailor-made for Kohlund. He sees it as the highlight of his long career. The actor sees the role as an opportunity to take a stand, as he tells dpa: for more justice.
20 episodes in eight years
20 Zurich crime drama episodes in eight years: The makers are delighted with the success and are celebrating with a double pack: part one of "Borchert und die Stadt in Angst" can be seen on ARD on December 5, part two on December 12. "Success is never pre-programmed. I've been in the business too long to take things for granted," says Kohlund. He was in charge of the successful series "Traumhotel" from 2004 to 2014, but that ended after 20 episodes. However, the "Zurich crime thriller" continues to be filmed.
What is the connection between the murders? At each crime scene, the investigators find a cardboard template with the sun and moon. A case analyst, who has her eye on Furrer and wants to shine after her US training with the use of artificial intelligence, gets nowhere. Borchert, on the other hand, relies on intuition. He finds a common thread and a connection between the dead and a tragic car accident on the day of the solar eclipse.
Special camera work
The first part ends dramatically: Borchert's boss Dominique Kuster (Ina Paule Klink) is pushed in front of a car before his eyes. In the second episode, Borchert himself also finds himself in mortal danger. The director sometimes uses a smartphone to shoot the camera as if it were an amateur video. This gives the impression of being there yourself.
Borchert is once again seen in the role of a comforter. "May I sit down?" he gently asks the colleague of a murder victim. Kohlund's distinctive voice, that alone has the effect of a comforting embrace. It is one of the most touching moments of the crime thriller. "The way Borchert acts is perhaps also me," says Kohlund. He always asks himself how he himself would react in scenes like this. He can also deviate from the text. "The director is always open to everything," he says.
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