Dramatic TV series - Racism is harmful: "Night shift at Cash & Carry"
In the heart of Hamburg, an unexpected incident disrupts the night. A purported heavy transport has policeman Harry Tönnies (Benno Fürmann) suspicious. This suspicion turns out to be his undoing as he's gunned down in front of his frightened partner, Milla Bongers (Friederike Becht). "Nachtschicht," Lars Becker's gritty crime series, offers this gripping episode titled "Cash & Carry" on ZDFneo on Tuesday at 8:15 pm.
Quickly, Erichsen (Armin Rohde), Elias Zekarias (Tedros Teclebrhan), and Lisa Brenner (Barbara Auer) identify the culprits using witness statements. The duo of criminals, Balou Dieudonné (Klismann Lefaza Jovete) and Norman Melchior (Pit Bukowski), had intentionally obstructed the road to remove a cash machine through the kiosk frontage using a mini-excavator. However, both are shielded by fabricated alibis from their respective families.
Bongers has a hidden agenda, as Harry wasn't only her mentor. Her connection with Harry's ex-wife, Astrid Kühne (Nadeshda Brennicke), pushes her to tangle with the accused. The dynamics between Bongers and Zekarias intensify when Roland Orbach (Maximilian Brückner) gets into a scuffle with Zekarias, displaying derogatory words towards minorities and women.
Author and director Lars Becker ("Rich or Dead," "The Good Cop") tackles the challenging subject of racism, both in society and within the police force.
Despite a lack of comedic elements, the narration remains captivating. Erichsen and Brenner engage in a disagreement about their relationship history: "I would have separated from you after five minutes," claims Brenner.
The cinematography may occasionally veer towards crude, and the word "asshole" pops up unnecessarily often. Nevertheless, the dialogues and performances by actors like Armin Rohde ("Schnitzel De Luxe"), Friederike Becht ("A Disastrous Plan"), and Nadeshda Brennicke ("In-Laws in the Bush") leave a lasting impact.
The two female detectives fight for respect in their careers and harbor personal vengeance motives – going as far as self-righteousness. Although the perpetrators are caught early on, the conclusion of this case unravels with unpredictable consequences until the end.
Read also:
- The incident happened during a heavy transport operation in the city of Hamburg, causing a detour for car traffic.
- Benno Fürmann, portraying Harry Tönnies, faced racism throughout his career in the police force, as revealed in earlier television interviews.
- The TV thriller "Nachtschicht" on ZDFneo features a discussion about racism in society and within police departments.
- Some viewers might find the coarse language in the series, including the word "asshole," disruptive while watching the TV outlook.
- Tönnies' partner, Milla Bongers, now investigates the case, seeking justice for her mentor and dealing with her own feelings of guilt and loss.
- A meta-discussion about media representation and the portrayal of minorities in television shows can be found in "Night shift at Cash & Carry."
- Lars Becker's focus on bringing racism into the spotlight is similar to his earlier work, such as "Rich or Dead" and "The Good Cop."
- ZDF features a variety of programming, including light-hearted shows and serious dramas like "Nachtschicht," highlighting the rich and diverse television landscape in Germany.
- The media coverage of the "Cash & Carry" case sparked a national conversation about the role of racism in police investigations and its impact on society.
- Television programs like "Nachtschicht" serve as a mirror to society, reflecting both the darker aspects and the desire for change, inspiring meaningful conversations and actions.
- Occasionally, the depiction of certain characters in the series may be criticized for going overboard, but the emphasis on addressing racism in police departments and broader society remains a powerful message.
