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Ulrich Matthes: Depression is a major issue

For his Christmas film "Winter Waltz", actor Ulrich Matthes wanted to portray the topic of depression in an appropriate way. "It was important to me - and I had director Ingo Rasper at my side - to take the subject of depression seriously. It's a big issue in our society. Psychotherapy...

The actor Ulrich Matthes. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de
The actor Ulrich Matthes. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de

People - Ulrich Matthes: Depression is a major issue

For his Christmas film "Winter Waltz", actor Ulrich Matthes wanted to portray the topic of depression in an appropriate way. "It was important to me - and I had the director Ingo Rasper at my side - to take the subject of depression seriously. It's a big issue in our society. Psychotherapy practices are full," said the 64-year-old ("Das Boot") in an interview with dpa about his leading role. "I've been spared it so far, except for three or four months during corona. That's when it kind of got me down. The theaters were closed and so was all public life. Fortunately, I'm basically mentally stable." The tragicomedy "Winter Waltz" is about a widower who initially wants to commit suicide, but finds new love through dancing. It will be shown on Friday (December 8) at 8.15 p.m. on Ersten.

Matthes attributes the fact that suicide is rarely discussed openly in films to possible fears "that someone who is on the brink of suicide might be encouraged", the so-called Werther effect. "It's tricky, of course, but I think that everything that exists in reality can, should and must also occur in art. Art is there to show and tell about the most terrible, the most absurd, the most irrational, the most disturbing things." In "Winter Waltz", Nina Kunzendorf plays the second leading role alongside Ulrich Matthes. The film was based on the novel "Der Donnerstagsmann" by Edda Leesch, who also wrote the screenplay.

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Source: www.stern.de

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