Hans Rosie at 100: ZDF Honors with Biopic the Beloved German TV Icon
- ZDF honors him with a televised biographical drama
Let's talk 'bout Hans Rosie, the irresistible TV star who'd be a cool 100 on April 2. In tribute, ZDF is airing a touching TV movie with Florian Lukas (52) playin' the lead role. The 90-minute flick delves deep into ol' Hans' inner turmoil: the entertaining showbiz vs. the Holocaust survivor narrative.
Oliver Haffner (50) directs this masterpiece, with the action focusin' on November 9, 1978. That's when ZDF planned to air the 75th anniversary of "Dalli Dalli," the same day as the first official remembrance of the '38 pogroms was to take place. You can see why ol' Hans might've faced a moral pickle!
Lukas Gives a Wicked Performance in Hans' Shoes
Ok, Florian, the dude playin' Hans (in more ways than one), spent months preparein' for the gig. He mumbles, "I only knew Hans Rosie as a phenomenon, one of the most famous and adored moderators in Germany. I didn't exactly have personal memories of the guy." The biggest obstacle for ol' Lukas? Channelin' someone known “for their entertaining flair which folks are pretty familiar with!"
To nail the role, Lukas dove deep into research, lyin' in ZDF's dusty archives, perusin' documents, and diggin' through correspondence and protocols. Chattin' with Hans' kids, Birgit Hofmann (born 1950) and Gert Rosie (born 1958), also helped. Lukas grins, “Spendin' time with both of them really helped me out!”
Walkin' the Tightrope Between Entertainment and Remembrance
The film shows Hans dancin' on his moral tightrope. As a Jewish kid in Nazi Germany, Hans hid and bore witness to his ten-year-old brother Gert bein' captured and slain by the Nazis. Now, he's supposed to make Germans laugh with his prime time show, "Dalli Dalli," on the 40th anniversary of the '38 pogroms. Whelp, that's one fun job, right?
When Hans is asked to sit in the front row at the remembrance event next to then Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (1918-2015), things get even more complicated. Oh, and the suits don't want to postpone the broadcast, either!
Lukas confesses, "I piled on the pressure because it was a real standout project for everyone involved." Nervous? Heck no! Lukas loved "playin' around in this groovy '70s set!"
Docu-Drama Shines More Light on Hans' Life
After the feature film, Kai Christiansen (born 1968) will drop the documentary "Hans Rosie - Two Lives in Germany." This historical docu-drama covers "both lives," as Hans himself put it – the popular showmaster and the persecuted Jewish boy in the '30s. The flick reveals how Hans managed to dodge the manhunt in the Nazi era with the help of courageous Berlin babes, hid in a garden colony. Post-war, ol' Hans became a lovable radio and TV host, but rarely shared his past.
Both the film and the documentary will be available in the ZDF media library from March 22, 2025, before airin' as the "TV Movie of the Week" on April 7 at 8:15 PM.
- Hans Rosie
- Showbiz vs. Holocaust
- Moral Dilemma
- TV Star
- Germany
- 1970s Game Show
Fun Fact:
Hans Rosie was not only a successful TV host but also a talented pianist and songwriter. His most famous composition, "Nimm Mich Bist Du Da," was a massive hit in Germany and remains famous to this day.
- Florian Lukas, in the role of Hans Rosenthal, faced a significant challenge in portraying the beloved German TV icon, as he needed to show both the entertaining showbiz side and the Holocaust survivor narrative.
- Despite not having many personal memories of Hans Rosenthal, Lukas spent months researching and preparing for the role, delving into ZDF's archives, perusing documents, and even speaking with Hans' children.
- The documentary "Hans Rosie - Two Lives in Germany," directed by Kai Christiansen, will also be released, covering both the popular show master's life as a television personality and his life as a persecuted Jewish boy during the 1930s.
