Tannbach II (ZDF) (2018)

 

 

 

 

 

Tannbach II is a historical drama in three parts which premiered on German television (ZDF) in 2018.

 

It is the second season about a (fictional) German village that is divided by the inner-German border between East Germany (DDR) and West Germany (BRD).

 

Here is some basic information about this drama:

 

** Director: Alexander Dierbach

** Writers: Josephin Thayenthal, Robert Thayenthal & Silke Zertz

** Soundtrack: German – no English subtitles!

** Part 1 = 98 minutes

** Part 2 = 94 minutes

** Part 3 = 92 minutes

** Total run time = 284 minutes

 

The cast, which can be divided into two groups, includes the following:

 

TANNBACH WEST

** Heiner Lauterbach as Georg von Striesow

** Anna Loos as Rosemarie Czerny

** Alexander Held as Franz Schober

** Jonathan Berlin as Walter Imhoff

** Mercedes Müller as Christa Schober

** Robert Stadlober as Horst Vöckler

 

TANNBACH EAST

** Henriette Confurius as Anna Erler

** Jonas Nay as Friedrich Erler

** Martina Gedeck as Hilde Vöckler

** Clemens Schick as Wolfgang Herder

 

As stated above, this is a historical drama, a fictional story which is placed in a historical context. In this case, the general historical context is Germany during the Cold War (1945-1990).

 

While Tannbach is a fictional village, the notion that a village was divided between east and west is not fiction. The story of Tannbach is based on the fate of the village Mödlereuth, which was known as Little Berlin, because it was divided between east and west during the Cold War. Tannbach is the name of the river that runs through this village.

 

I do not wish to spoil the viewing for anyone. Therefore, I am not going to reveal too much about what happens in this drama. I will merely offer some basic facts about it.

 

Tannbach I - the first season of this historical drama which premiered in 2015 - covers the time 1945-1952. Tannbach II covers the time 1960-1968.

 

As stated above, there are three episodes.

 

Here are the headlines:

 

# 1. “Schatten des Krieges”

“In the Shadow of the War”  

This episode is set in 1960

 

# 2. “Frieden aus Stein”

“Peace Made of Stone”  

This episode is set in 1961

 

# 3. “Traum von Frühling”

“The Dream of Spring”

This episode is set in 1968

 

What do reviewers say about this historical drama?

 

On IMDb it has a rating of 75 per cent, which corresponds to (almost) four stars on Amazon.

 

What do I think about it?

 

I think Tannbach II is better than Tannbach I.

 

Why?

 

Season one has a flaw: many characters seem like one-dimensional types and not like real persons. In my opinion, season one deserves a rating of four stars.

 

In season two, this flaw is gone. The characters seem like real persons.

 

The geographical setting is the same and several characters are the same, but the story has moved forward in time, from the 1940s and the 1950s to the 1960s. Obviously, there is still much focus on the fact that the village is divided by a wall, but other issues are covered as well.

 

I will not offer any details here.

 

I do not wish to spoil the viewing for anyone.

 

The script is well-written and the actors play their roles well. The story is captivating, dramatic, and often highly emotional. While the story is fictional, it is placed in a context which seems to be very realistic.

 

I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of five stars (100 percent).

 

*****