Klaus Maria Brandauer: "I like to think back to 'Out of Africa'"

Klaus Maria Brandauer
"I like to think back to 'Out of Africa'"

On Sunday (January 3rd), "Ferdinand von Schirach: Feinde" is the first big TV event of the new year. Two feature films ("Gegen die Zeit", "Das Geständnis") and a documentary on the same topic will be shown – from 8:15 pm simultaneously in the first and all third programs. Actor Klaus Maria Brandauer (77, "James Bond 007 – Never Say Never") plays one of the leading roles in the fatal kidnapping case, criminal defense attorney Konrad Biegler. Watching him is once again a great pleasure, even though the subject of the feature films is of course very serious.

Klaus Maria Brandauer, who played the eponymous Jedermann at the Salzburg Festival from 1983 to 1989, has been an international film star since the US drama "Jenseits von Afrika" (1985) with Meryl Streep (71) and Robert Redford (84) . Does the native Austrian get annoyed when he is asked about the multiple Oscar-winning film? He gives the answer in an interview with spot on news.

Some actors distance themselves from previous successes. How about you? Would you be happy if you were asked about the multiple Oscar-winning film "Out of Africa"? Or is it annoying?

Klaus Maria Brandauer: It doesn't bother me at all, it was a very important time in which a lot happened to me and I like to think back on it.

Have you watched the film again? How do you like it today?

Brandauer: I very seldom watch my own films, I don't find them that interesting. But when it happens, it's also a pleasure. The film is shown quite often on television, it has become a kind of holiday classic, not every film manages that.

Are you still in contact with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford? If so, how can you imagine that?

Brandauer: It's been a while and we're all still very busy, but I have the phone numbers.

You are still making international films. What is the special attraction for you?

Brandauer: That is not a criterion for me, I rather choose my projects according to whether I find the story good and whether I find the role interesting and suitable for me. The year before last I shot a new film in Hungary with my old friend Istvan Szabo, almost forty years after "Mephisto" (1981, Oscar for best foreign language film, editor), I am very happy about that. The premiere in Budapest was three days before the lockdown. We very much hope that the film can hit theaters in 2021!

The new "Jedermann" was recently introduced. You played this cult role at the Salzburg Festival from 1983 to 1989. What is special about this role / performance?

Brandauer: You don't just play a prominent role, you are also the carnival prince for Salzburg residents, as long as you are everyone, all year round. You have to be able to endure this absorption, otherwise you won't enjoy it.

Lars Eidinger (44) will take on the role in the coming season. What tip do you have for him? What should he be prepared for? What should he particularly enjoy?

Brandauer: It's summer, it's outside, it's a festival. He should simply have a lot of fun with the whole ensemble in every performance on the Domplatz, just like we had back then, then the rest will fall into place.

On Sunday you can be seen in the films "Ferdinand von Schirach: Enemies – Against Time" and "Ferdinand von Schirach: Enemies – The Confession". The same criminal case is told once from the perspective of the investigator and once from the perspective of the defense attorney. What do you think of this unusual film project in general?

Brandauer: I think the two films are a very good opportunity to shed light on a controversial topic from different angles. The viewer finds himself in the middle and has to form his own opinion. I'm very much into challenges, especially on television.

What was the special challenge for you as an actor?

Brandauer: I find that difficult to say, because I try to do all the tasks I face as well as possible. Such large court scenes are certainly a challenge for everyone involved, because everyone has to bring a high level of concentration so that everything works as intended and the tension lasts until the end.

Were the films shot in parallel? If so, how was it ensured that everyone always knew exactly which film was coming? Or did it not make a difference?

Brandauer: That was relatively unproblematic. Most of the scenes that appear in both films had two cameras, which is not that unusual. A production like this is a very complex matter because so much has to come together in a good way. You can't do that without a fantastic crew like we had. Many well-versed professionals ensure that everything is always in the right place at the right time and that, despite all the logistics, the art can break out.

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