Even pathologists have dark secrets
Forensic pathologists usually have a clearly defined supporting role in "Tatort": they have to be a bit strange to lighten the mood in the pathology department with their quips. "Forgiveness" turns the sidekick into the main character.
Forensic pathologists usually have a clearly defined supporting role in "Tatort": they have to be a bit strange to lighten the lousy atmosphere in the pathology department with jokes. "Forgiveness" turns the sidekick into the main character.
What happens?
The body of a middle-aged man washes up in the Neckar. Because this happens again and again, the Stuttgart detectives Bootz (Felix Klare) and Lannert (Richy Müller) are initially not very excited. Only Dr. Vogt (Jürgen Hartmann) is visibly shaken: the forensic pathologist knew the dead man and the two were close friends in the 80s.
The pathologist investigates on his own, delving deeper and deeper into areas that he had suppressed for decades. Bootz and Lannert soon realize that Dr. Vogt is carrying a dark secret around with him, and they no longer understand the world: What is their longtime colleague hiding from them? And what does Sandra, the wife of the deceased (Ulrike C. Tscharre), have to do with the whole thing?
What is it really about?
In "Tatort" and "Polizeiruf", pathologists are traditionally rather droll and usually somewhat quirky cues. In "Vergebung", the sidekick becomes the main actor and main suspect: "Suddenly I'm caught in the pincers that the suspects are normally caught in," says the Vogt actor about his role in the film. And it suits Hartmann extremely well.
Zapping away moment?
There are things that simply don't work in "Tatort" - poetry, for example. The fact that a poem by the 19th century Swiss poet Conrad Ferdinand Meyer appears several times doesn't make it any better: "Recently in a dream I saw on the waves / A boat without oars pulling (...) Heart, I drink you oblivion". Exactly, let's forget the whole thing.
Wow factor?
The scene in which Dr. Vogt saws open his childhood friend's skull, torn between professionalism, feelings of loss and guilt.
How is it?
8 out of 10 points. "Forgiveness" is an unusual case with a strong performance by Jürgen Hartmann. The film creates a fascinatingly melancholy mood despite the most magnificent summer images. Only in the ending does it weaken a little.
Source: www.ntv.de
