In “Heaven, Lord, Sacrament” by cult director Bogner, Stephan Zinner plays the cool priest Hans. In the interview he reveals details.
The Bavarian director and screenwriter Franz was his police series “Munich 7” (2004-2006, 2012-2016). This Friday, his new cross-genre series “Heaven, Lord, Sacrament” (October 27th, 8:15 p.m., BR) starts with a double episode. The other double episodes will air on November 3rd and 10th in the primetime slot.
The viewers are then served funny, serious or crime stories from the life of Pastor Hans Reiser (Stephan Zinner, 49), who was transferred from the country to a Munich community against his will. In his new church he has to struggle above all with the yawning emptiness, but the pragmatic and unconventional preacher doesn’t just accept that: he counters it with free beer at the church festival, animals in the service and other activities – which of course not everyone likes…
Stephan Zinner took on the main role. The Bavarian actor is known as the butcher Simmerl in the Eberhofer films (since 2013), as Inspector Dennis Eden in the Munich “Polizeiruf” (since 2021) and as a long-time Söder parodist from Nockherberg (2006-2021). In an interview with the news agency, he answers the crucial question “How do you feel about religion?” (Fist). He also reveals a few details about his other projects.
You grew up with Bogner’s cult series like “Somehow and Anyway”. What was it like for you to work with him in your first leading role in the series?
Stephan Zinner: That’s right. It was and is something very special for me. Before meeting Franz for the first time, I was really very excited.
What will you remember from filming?
Zinner: That’s not nice or funny or cool, but I won’t forget that I got Corona during filming, even though I had so much to do. That was really annoying. We had such sophisticated security measures on set and I was also good and followed everything. But after a few got hit, it just took a while until everyone was completely fit again. I would prefer not to experience that again. What I remember particularly well is that I have rarely worked with such lovely colleagues. In terms of the interpersonal encounters, this work was really something very nice.
As a new pastor, one of the things you will have to deal with is empty services and churches. Did you ever think about this before the series?
Zinner: Since some of my family and friends are active in the Catholic Church, I already noticed that. During the actual preparation for the series, it became clear to me that the word “dilemma” already applies – and the church apparatus is currently not able to cope with it either.
How do you feel about church, regular church attendance, or are you more of a Christmas churchgoer?
Zinner: I used to be a Protestant, which probably says it all. Incidentally, my previous religion was not an easy prerequisite for growing up in Trostberg in Upper Bavaria. But I was pretty good at football, so that made up for it.
In the series you have a beautiful dance scene in the church. What was it like filming? Did you know how to dance beforehand?
Zinner: I would like to thank my fellow actress Anne Schäfer [44, Rolle: Grafikerin Lisa, Red.] for leading this scene. Thanks to her, it was called a dance scene and not a stunt. In general, I would say I can dance averagely well. After graduating from school, I took a dance course. That was a long time ago, but I have retained a few dances. Waltz or foxtrot – the ones you need every now and then.
They also filmed with a lot of animals in the church. How was that, wasn’t there a lot of barking?
Zinner: We sometimes had to stop a take because the animals didn’t quite do what they were supposed to. I also seem to remember that one dog was a bit of a troublemaker and even got expelled at one point. Overall, it was exciting because I had read in the script that animals were coming, but I didn’t know in which dimension – and the team has also brought up exotic things, not just dogs and cats.
How do you find animals in the church?
Zinner: I have no problem with that. If it serves the cause, why not.
The Viktualienmarkt appears again and again in Franz Xaver Bogner’s recent series “Moni’s Grill” and “München Grill”. Why is that?
Zinner: The Viktualienmarkt is very representative of Munich and Franz just really likes this place. He knows almost everyone there and greets them all. However, it’s not necessarily fun to shoot at the Viktualienmarkt because there’s so much going on there. Maybe that’s why we had a lot of night scenes on location.
A quick word about the other two large rows with which you are connected. The Eberhofer films are celebrating their tenth cinema anniversary this year. On the other hand, it is not entirely clear what happens next. What does your gut feeling say and has the story been told?
Zinner: My gut feeling says that things will continue. Unfortunately, I don’t know either. The films have been running in cinemas for ten years, but the tenth film is still pending – “Rehragout-Rendezvous” (2023) was the ninth. Somehow I personally think a kind of final film would be nice. But I don’t know whether others see it that way or whether it’s even possible. Now the next Eberhofer novel “Steckerlfischfiasko” has been published…
You are a permanent investigator at the Munich “Polizeiruf 110”. The first case with new colleague Johanna Wokalek (48) has already been broadcast. Is the next one already in the works?
Zinner: The next “Polizeiruf 110” has already been filmed – this time it was written and directed by Alexander Adolph [57, “München Mord”, “Tatort”, Red.] accepted. I think the crime thriller will be broadcast next spring – and of course it’s strange to say that about your own project, but I think the film turned out really well.
When you were filming the second crime film, were you more familiar with your new colleagues?
Zinner: With Johanna it happened very quickly. Of course, like everyone else, I knew beforehand that she was a great actress. But she’s also really nice, a cool, uncomplicated guy and a good person – and of course that makes it easy. She shines through her ability. It’s very, very fun.
From 2006 to 2021 you parodied politician Markus Söder at Nockherberg. Do you miss it?
Zinner: I don’t miss it because I did it long enough and with great joy. But I’m really looking forward to next year and how my colleagues will deal with it.
And what else can your fans look forward to?
Zinner: I’m currently writing a volume of short stories. From November I’ll be back on stage with my cabaret solo and my colleague Hannes Ringlstetter. And filming for the next “Polizeiruf 110” will continue in March/April.