In “Friedmanns Vier” Tom Beck plays a father who experiences something bad. In an interview, he reveals why grief is important to him.
After the successful start on the streaming service RTL+, fans can now look forward to the fact that the series “Friedmanns Vier” will be available on VOX on free TV from April 27, 2022 (from 8:15 p.m.). In the drama series, Tom Beck (44) plays the father of a family, Mischko Friedmann, who is happy in life and loves his three children more than anything. When his wife suddenly dies in an accident, he is confronted with the situation of being a single father. With three daughters who still have their own problems, Mischko tries to draw something positive from the blow of fate. Is that possible?
“You should try to draw optimism from such events so as not to go under completely,” says Beck himself. The father of a son wants to protect his child from bad news as much as possible. Despite everything, he asks himself: “How long can you keep believing in this good, beautiful world without disturbing the child?” He has not yet found an answer for himself. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, he reveals why it is important for the 44-year-old to openly show emotions and how he deals with strokes of fate.
What does the series and the launch on free TV mean to you?
Tom Beck: It means a lot to me. I would really be lying if I said there is no pride and no motivation behind it. Spinning was really fun. The whole cast was great. There was a feeling that we were creating something special. That touches us all and, in the best case, also the people who watch it. When the response came afterwards, it was really overwhelming. The jump to free TV now also means a larger audience. That’s great and of course makes me proud.
What drew you to play the role of Mischko Friedmann, who is alone with three children after the death of his wife?
Beck: First I read the book and was totally taken with the whole project. It’s especially nice when you read a book and get a certain feeling from it. You are emotionally gripped and visualize it a little in your mind’s eye. The story is straightforward, direct, honest and authentically written. I liked that from the start.
The role was a gift for me and something completely different again. As an actor, that’s great, of course, because I was able to show another facet of myself. In other roles there is often not so much room for these quiet tones and perhaps, as here, for these tragic moments.
What moments from the shoot do you remember most fondly?
Beck: The whole shooting time was very harmonious and just great. It was so easy to do, although it was sometimes tough stuff. The funeral scene sticks in my memory, along with many others. I felt the soul of the series there. It was a day when we were all in a church, preparing ourselves, everyone took their space and looked into themselves a bit. It grabbed us all, it even moved me to tears myself, for example. At the end we all hugged each other and for me that was the moment that makes the series so special.
Mischko Friedmann has to deal with a terrible loss on the one hand and take care of 3 children on the other. The three children deal with their grief and loss differently. How do you deal with strokes of fate?
Beck: Thank God I haven’t had to cope with such a heavy blow of fate. In general, there is no sample reaction that you can use. Everyone deals with such situations differently. I think I would be someone who, like Mischko, would rather throw himself into work or try to switch on repression mode. I wouldn’t be either or, I’d probably be a little bit of everything. I would repress and do a lot to distract myself. But I don’t want to have to worry about that now.
You are a father yourself: Do you sometimes think about how you would later teach your child such messages?
Beck: No! Don’t. I push that very far away from me. If I thought about it, I would probably go insane. I just hope I never have to deliver such a message. These are not scenarios playing out in my mind’s eye.
Regarding the current news situation, how do you think one could convey such events to children?
Beck: That’s exactly what I processed in a song recently and asked myself the question: What do you say to your child? Especially when it asks, “What kind of world have you put me in?” One wonders how long one can keep believing in this good, beautiful world without disturbing the child. Especially when at some point it realizes that it’s not all that nice. Those are questions to ask yourself. I don’t have an answer for myself yet. I try to protect my son from this as long as possible and let him live in his beautiful childhood world, where everything is colourful.
Do you think you can also draw something positive from difficult experiences?
Beck: Yes, at best, something positive results from such strokes of fate. If you manage to sharpen the view of yourself in the family again, it might also weld more together. I think that’s also the only way you’re kind of holding on to a straw and saying, “At least that’s nice now.” One should try to draw the optimism out of such events in order not to go under completely.
Do you think it is important to openly show emotions even in difficult situations?
Beck: I think it’s important for me and I would recommend it to everyone. I think when you eat stuff inside you just build up things and it hardens you inside and out. Of course, you can’t force that on anyone. I know I need that as an outlet for myself. For example, some have a fear of showing weakness. There is nothing weak about letting your emotions run free. I think it’s important to take the moments to mourn. I think that’s healthier than pretending to have this strength, which in the end is actually just an outer facade.
You were separated from your family for several weeks due to the shooting. How was that for you?
Beck: I actually didn’t want to go to the casting at first because I thought: “It’s super cool, but I don’t feel like being away for four and a half months.” That’s why it was actually a much bigger topic before then than when we were shooting. Then it works somehow. In between, of course, there’s facetime and the little one notices that dad isn’t there. But he’s as happy as a schnitzel when he sees me. Still, one wonders what that does to a child when dad is away for a long time. Of course, I commuted home every weekend.
But it wasn’t easy for me to be away from my family for such a long time. Especially at such an age when so much is happening with my son.
But at least he didn’t blame me. I’m still the dear papa.
“Friedmanns Vier” already has a considerable fan base that wants a second season. How do you see the chances for a sequel and what would you think of it?
Beck: Then I would be away from home again (laughs). Of course I would be happy, of course. It’s not for nothing that we put all our heart and soul into it. It was a nice shooting time with great moments. Based on the feedback we’ve received, it would be nice if there were a second season.
How are the prospects?
Beck: I’m someone who sees the glass as half full. I have a good feeling. Especially when you see how clear the fans are about the series, how touched and moved they are. If I were the broadcaster, I would say: “Come on guys, let’s do a second season” (laughs).