"As Long as You Breathe": A Bitter Brew of Suspense and Squabbling
Unusual Alliance Found Between Unlikely Partners
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Set on the coast of Weser, this latest Tatort episode starts with a corpse in a distinctive jacket, but it takes a while for the detectives to identify the victim. Linda Selb (Luise Wolfram) and Liv Moormann (Jasna Fritzi Bauer), not exactly BFFs, squabble and brawl before they can uncover the leads. The dead man was named Marek Kolschak (Jonathan Berlin) - a man with a questionable past, infamous for his relentless stalking of Rani Ewers (Via Jikeli), a single mom, and her daughter Mia (Pola Friedrichs). Was it Rani who finally snapped and took things into her own hands? Or was it Kolschak's colleague Benno Falk (Julian Greis), an investigative journalist with a penchant for delving into Bremen's underworld? Or perhaps it was Paula Södersen (Sarina Radomski), Rani's roommate and a woman who seems determined to insert herself into the investigation at every turn.
True Colors
Beyond the investigative complexities, this episode delves into contemporary issues like the struggles of single mothers seeking housing, the perils of journalistic research, stalking, emotional dependencies, and the search for peace. But it's hard to see these themes behind the cloud of constant bickering and sniping between Selb and Moormann. Their antagonistic relationship is a distraction that feels unnecessarily annoying and takes away from the oxygen necessary to truly appreciate the investigation at hand.
Stick Around
Despite the verbal sparring and eyes-rolling, the episode is worth sticking around for. Writer Judith Westermann and director Franziska Margarete Hoenisch deliver a suspenseful case, complete with a minor spoiler alert - there may just be a flicker of hope for Selb and Moormann at the end.
Noteworthy Moments
Helen Schneider's portrayal of Edda Bingley, the coroner, is a highlight - her scenes are a delight to watch.
The Score
Mid-range. "As Long as You Breathe" offers a solid crime drama, neitherbad nor groundbreaking. A bit more suspense and deduction would have added to the story, but Schneider's performance is a silver lining.
Verdict
5 out of 10 points - The tale picks up speed at the end, leaving a glimmer of hope for Bremen's detectives. But it could use some lengthening and fewer distractions to fully appreciate its complexities.
The following are to be added: Kolschak's infamous past of relentless stalking involves Rani Ewers, a single mom, and her daughter Mia. The risks of investigative journalism, emotional dependencies, and the search for peace are the contemporary issues this Tatort episode delves into, but the constant bickering between detectives Linda Selb and Liv Moormann feels like a distraction. Moving forward, it's worth noting that writer Judith Westermann and director Franziska Margarete Hoenisch might introduce some risks and hopefully address the distractions in the upcoming episodes. In the meantime, the latest Tatort episode might interest Tatort fans who enjoy watching movies-and-tv related to entertainment and suspense.
