The mountain doctor
"With Harald Krassnitzer everything really worked out"
"Der Bergdoktor: Bauernopfer": In the winter special, Dr. Martin Gruber (Hans Sigl, r.) And his brother Hans Gruber (Heiko Ruprecht, l.) The shocked Rupert Althammer (Harald Krassnitzer).
© ZDF / Erika Hauri
"Bergdoktor" star Hans Sigl meets Harald Krassnitzer, one of his predecessors, in the winter special. That was the first real meeting.
The actors Hans Sigl (51, "Escape through Höllental") and Harald Krassnitzer (60, Austro- "Tatort") met during the shooting for the winter special "Der Bergdoktor: Bauernopfer" (7.1., 8:15 pm, ZDF ) first really got to know. And that although the two Austrians have long been linked by the role of the "mountain doctor". Krassnitzer played Dr. Justus Hallstein from 1996 to 2005, Sigl has been working as Dr. Martin Gruber to the patients in beautiful Ellmau, Tyrol.
In the winter special, Krassnitzer does not return in his role as a doctor, but as a former villager Rupert Althammer. After his mountain guide Johanna Kirchner (Liliane Zillner) fell into a crevice, he found help from Dr. Gruber and his brother Hans Gruber (Heiko Ruprecht), who took refuge in a mountain hut from the snow storm. Although the two brothers were able to save the injured Johanna Kirchner with great effort, the young woman told Martin about her physical problems that led to the accident. Soon he will have to confront her with a sad diagnosis …
In an interview with the news agency spot on news, actor Hans Sigl tells, among other things, how the collaboration with his predecessor was and how the "Bergdoktor" filming has changed over the decades. He also reveals whether he Googles himself now and then.
About the "Bergdoktor" winter special: The normal season always plays in summer. Why is there a winter special at all? What is the concept behind it?
Hans Sigl: It has developed that way over time. We wanted to have a kind of prelude that stands out from the horizontal stories. For example, the winter special is less about the family. We just want to give the new "Bergdoktor" season a visually stunning start.
Did Corona already play a role in the shooting?
Sigl: Corona has not yet played a role in the filming of the winter special. You did notice that there was something in China. But nobody has thought of such consequences. At the beginning of March we were finished and then the first lockdown soon came.
Harald Krassnitzer plays a leading role in the winter special. At that time, however, he was also the second actor to impersonate the "Bergdoktor". Was the subject between you two on set?
Sigl: Yes, the topic was clear. First of all, I was really happy that he played and that we really got to know each other for the first time. Otherwise we only met once at events and said "hello". It was really great work with him, he's a great actor and a really nice guy and down to earth and Austrian. Everything really worked out.
And has a lot changed during the "Bergdoktor" filming from then and now?
Sigl: Of course. We could both really give a talk about the development of television over the past 20 or 30 years. It was really exciting to talk to him about the shooting conditions back then. We also shot on film before everything went digital. How many days of shooting they had – back then you had an infinite amount of time. We have a lot less time, we shoot 90 minutes in 16 days.
Much has also changed in terms of format and narrative structure. But also with the outdoor shots. For overflight shots over a snowfield you used to order a helicopter, now you pack a drone out of your suitcase and it's done. So much has changed and we had a lot of fun remembering it.
The young leading actress in the film googles her origins. Do you google yourself now and then?
Sigl: No, I don't google myself, I don't have to because I have a Google alert that informs me automatically. And if I do find out something, my press office will tell me. Sometimes friends send me screenshots of reports and then ask whether I am divorced because they have just read about my "horror confession" or a "shock message" (laughs).
How do you react to that?
Sigl: As long as it doesn't go against my family, I can take note of it with great humor. If my wife gets shot, the fun stops immediately. I like to take up the rest in my solo program. There were funny things there.
In Ina Müller's late night talk "Inas Nacht" I once said that when I was 16 I had a big growth spurt. I said a little exaggerated that in a year I had grown half a meter. Thereupon a magazine read: "Shock news! Sigl suffers from gigantism. If he didn't take pills, he would be 2.50 meters tall." In doing so, of course, the authors discredit themselves. My audience can laugh at that.
You also have a lot of audience with your Instagram talk format. Could you imagine doing your talk on television?
Sigl: Everything is possible and you can do a lot, everything always has to be right and maybe I'll talk on TV …
Which talk shows do you like to see yourself?
Sigl: I basically like to watch talk shows. I particularly like the Friday evening programs like "NDR Talk Show" or "Kölner Treff". Also the show "River Boat", in which I was a guest myself.