“That was almost magical”: Actor Robert Stadlober recounts goose bumps from the edge of the “Waidmannsdank” filming.
The thrilling, atmospherically filmed and grandiose crime thriller “Waidmannsdank” (May 31, 8:15 pm, ZDF) ran as part of the rural crime series in Austria at the beginning of November 2020 and received consistently positive reviews. “It was the most successful country thriller so far”, enthuses Robert Stadlober (38, “Leberkäsjunkie”) in an interview with the news agency spot on news and looks back on the filming with goose bumps.
What will you not forget about the filming of “Waidmannsdank”?
Robert Stadlober: Because many scenes take place in the Kaponigtal in the municipality of Obervellach in Carinthia, on a day off I chose the Zagutnig, something like Obervellach’s local mountain, to climb. It took me about five hours to get to the top and when I got to the top I saw that there is a trailing edge on the other side that goes about 1,000 meters steeply downhill. Suddenly it started to snow.
Of course, I was incredibly poorly equipped because I only wanted to enjoy a bit of nature between two days of shooting. I had good shoes, but no jacket, for example. I got a little scared. I go into the mountains a lot, but the situation was very extreme because the strong wind really whipped up the snow and visibility was poor as a result. The last entry in the summit book was also two weeks old, so it was clear that no one would come by that often …
How did you then calm down and make the descent?
Stadlober: That was almost a bit magical. I looked around and suddenly a chamois stood on a small rise next to the main summit and looked over at me. At some point she began to slowly jump down the approximately 800 meters of altitude on individual grass mats that had become quite slippery due to the snow. In that way she basically showed me how the way goes down and I just followed her. Otherwise I might have slipped and there would have been no stopping.
I’m really not esoteric, but this chamois actually brought me to the tree line. Downstairs, of course, the snow storm was over immediately and was replaced by the most beautiful sunshine. And when I met a magnificent stag in a clearing, which toasted me, I just sat down in the clearing and was happy about this magical day. The experience really brought me closer to the essence of this valley in an impressive way.
Great story! Is there then any need to ask what you think of the hunt, which the film is about, among other things?
Stadlober: I’m actually more interested in living animals. But my uncle is a passionate hunter and I have also hunted with him. I find the archaic aspect of it exciting and I also understand the fascination. In addition, the hunt is probably necessary here because we have exterminated all large predators. Nonetheless, I might be able to shoot an animal, but breaking and gutting, which is done on the spot afterwards, would be very difficult for me.
There is a hunters ‘regulars’ table in the film. There is something like that for artists too. Do you like regular tables?
Stadlober: In principle, yes. But I have two small children and at the moment I can’t really go to the regulars’ tables. Sitting together in relaxed groups, also with heated discussions, is quite refreshing for me. But I also come from a small town and actually grew up with the fact that you go to the regulars’ table on Sundays and, as a child, rush through the dining room. That has something to do with the embossing. In my twenties, of course, I loved to go dancing, but now I prefer to sit around and talk to people.
Was that what you were missing in particular during the past Corona year?
Stadlober: Yes. Although one has to say, with all due humility, that we actors who could work were in a very privileged position. Of course, there is no socializing in the sense that I can sit down in a pub with friends, but of course there were gatherings during filming. We are all thoroughly tested and so it is quite possible from time to time to discuss scenes together or to drink an after-work beer.
“Waidmannsdank” was created in autumn 2019, before Corona. What did you shoot during Corona? Are you in the “boat” continuation again?
Stadlober: I can only comment on that in a covered manner. But I don’t deny it either. In general, I’ve shot a lot since Corona. In the first three months I was actually in lockdown because all productions were on hold. I started again in August last year. And in winter I shot an Austrian family series.
In “Waidmannsdank” her character is lovesick. You have probably already experienced that. What helped you What advice would you give?
Stadlober: I think human history is full of advice about lovesickness, none of which helped. You can use all of these inadequate resources: meet friends, listen to music, do sports, a lot of alcohol, no alcohol, travel, stay at home, one-night stands, no one-night stands … It never works. Fortunately, the times when I was unhappily in love are long gone. I am happily in love and married. But when that wasn’t the case, all the recipes my friends gave me didn’t work.
Then only time heals these wounds?
Stadlober: Yes. And when you remember it 20 years later, you look back with a kind of longing at this youthful arrogance of the heart. How great it was when you suffered so much. In retrospect, the personal pain diary from youth is often exaggerated in a bittersweet way. But maybe it actually helps if you say to yourself: In 20 years you will smile about it …