Liesl Karlstadt und Karl Valentin

The shared biography of Liesl Karlstadt (1892-1960) and Karl Valentin (1882-1948) naturally called for a film adaptation for a long time. The phenomenon of this comedic duo spans a long period, from 1911 until Valentin's death. Jo Baier approached this material with a commendable amount of respect and reverence, but he also remembered to include the human aspect and humor. The material would easily suffice for a standalone series, but even so, the TV film managed to capture all the important aspects. The performances by Johannes Herrschmann and Hannah Herzsprung are epochal, and the music by Konstantin Wecker is excellent. Personally, I most enjoyed the reconstruction of the filming of Der Firmling and Beim Nervenarzt. (06/24/2024)