Black comedy on ZDF - "Karigula": Can Karla love Charlie to kill him?
Clown Charly can't take it anymore. He can't make people laugh, not even when he pays them for it. That's why he wants to give up. He's looking for someone to take his life away. But that's not the only issue in the black comedy "Karigula – Monster of Love," now available in the ZDF Mediathek since July 8 and on TV on August 19, 0.30 am, also linearly on ZDF. Because serial killer Karla can only kill those she loves.
Charly's Last Act
They meet on a bridge, not as expected for Charly's final act, leading to his expected end on a stage. He doesn't plunge into roaring water, but remains helplessly hanging over it - and serial killer Karla hears him, as she's about to dispose of her latest lover, her current love, in pieces and airtight packages. She abducts Charlie and, for a moment, the clown seems to have a death wish. But Karla lets him go, roars off with her transporter, and he calls after her: "Wait, I want to die!" Now, Charlie's attempts to win over the murderer for his suicide mission begin: "I'm an atheist, with my body, you can do whatever you want."
The Serial Killer, incidentally, has other plans for him. She brings him the killing, so he can confess to her crimes convincingly. From this tangled web, a tender but almost bloody love story emerges - with heart palpitations for the audience, especially.
A Film for Home Cinema
More heavy than funny, more tragedy than comedy, this 80-minute emotional film is part of the "Shooting Stars – Young Cinema in the Second" series on ZDF in July and August. A contrasting program for a quiet summer evening, as "Karigula – Monster of Love" builds on dark color palettes and a sound and noise design for maximum impact. If one has a choice, it's a piece that's best enjoyed on a large home cinema screen and good sound quality instead of on a laptop.
Director and screenwriter Carsten Unger chose an expressive style for his film: "We follow instinctively the expressionist film of the 20s, searching, experimenting, sometimes clumsy, yet powerful in the chamber play," he explained to ZDF.
What is this love?
He is almost infatuated with his leading actors Ben Becker and Sabine Timoteo: "Their faces and the power of the film music form the anchor, around which the chamber play swings absurdly high, until the filmic space bursts and all genre conventions are suddenly overcome, to tell an unusual and sincere story about love."
But that's not all. The film about the feelings of a sad clown and the longing of a serial killer is actually a film about the biggest question: What is love and what does it do to us?
The ZDF Newcomers Department Das kleine Fernsehspiel presents the series "Shooting Stars" for the twelfth time this summer. In addition to "Karigula – Monster of Love," there are also "The Black Square," "Sweet Disaster," "The Ordinaries," and "All Want to be Loved."
- Despite the dark themes in "Karigula – Monster of Love," it's now streaming on ZDF's Media Library, offering a unique blend of comedy and tragedy for viewers in Germany.
- If you're looking for a night of gripping television, you can tune in to ZDF on August 19 at 0.30 am or stream it anytime on their Media Library, as the film also becomes available on the internet.
- In the comedy-thriller, Charly, a struggling clown, finds himself in an unexpected romantic entanglement with a murderess, adding another layer of complexity to his life and career.
- As the film gains popularity, fans of dark comedies and German media will likely add "Karigula – Monster of Love" to their list of favorite streaming options, available for streaming on ZDF and various internet platforms.
- The film's unique blend of genres and themes has caught the attention of media outlets and critics in Berlin and beyond, garnering positive reviews and attracting viewers curious to see how love and murder can coexist in the world of television.
- With its raw and expressive style, "Karigula – Monster of Love" offers viewers a captivating look into the darker sides of love and human nature, making it a must-watch for fans of Berlin-based comedies and streaming media.
