Displaying items by tag: Oliver Haffner

ROSENTHAL

Germany, 2025, 93 minutes, Colour.

Florian Lukas, Silke Bodenbender, Hans0Jochen Wagner, Teresa Rizos, Maya Unger, Anatole Taubman.

Directed by Oliver Haffner.

Hans Rosenthal was a significant entertainer on German, West German, television in the 1970s. He hosted more than 75 episodes of Dalli Dalli, a boisterous entertainment, quizzes, guests, competitions, an eager and faithful audience.

The focus of the film is on his 75^th episode, a celebratory episode. However, it coincides with the 40^th anniversary of Kristallnacht. And despite his exuberant TV personality, Hans Rosenthal has grim memories of his earlier life, the 1930s, the disappearance of his little brother from a dormitory, his being tested for military service and failing, hard labour, his escape, being sheltered by a kind woman during the war, her shop burnt and attacked during Kristallnacht.

The film shows his dilemma about his Jewish loyalty and the difficulty that he was not known as Jewish, the invitation for him to participate in the 40^th anniversary memorial.

Florian Lukas brings Rosenthal to life, the cheerful host, the more serious husband and father, his devoted and supportive wife, scenes with his family, his relationship with his faithful assistant, the various members of the staff the program, the discussions with the executives of the television network.

The film was made as a tribute to Hans Rosenthal on the centenary of his birthday.

1. A film for German audiences, audiences remembering the Holocaust?
2. A true story, character, the popularity of the television program, Rosenthal as a host, personality, his aims, to entertain? But not revealing his Jewish background?
3. The introduction, the re-creation of the television programs, the host, the judges, the various participants, the audience response, popularity?
4. The story of Hans Rosenthal, in the 1970s, his happy marriage to his wife, the domestic scenes at home, the pressures on him, her support, his children and their lives, grandchildren? The pressure of the work, his enjoyment, writing and creating, humour and quips? Quiet at home? The television network, their expectations, audiences not knowing his Jewish background?
5. The focus of the crisis, the 40^th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 75^th episode of his show, the clash? The meetings with the producer, singing, his office, the lunch, and the autograph, contract for the anniversary show? His visit to the Jewish centre, Elias as his friend, arranging the Memorial, the chancellor going to Cologne, the speech, the guests? The clash of the events?
6. The pressure on Rosenthal, the encounters with Rebecca and the young group, their stances, Jewishness, memory of Kristallnacht’s, as a journalist, her grandmother’s birthday, Rosenthal arriving, the cheerfulness, her later confronting him for the interview?
7. Dr Hummel, the head of programming, the discussions, the decision to have serious 40^th anniversary programs surrounding the entertainment program?
8. The various personalities of the show, Monica and her assistance, advice? The young man representing Dr Hummel and Rosenthal’s treatment of him, at the end, the young man making the decision about the changes? The judges, the various members of the crew, the young guests?
9. Rosenthal and pressures, his wife organising the holiday, at the beach, the grandson, the various members of the family, the son’s girlfriend asking questions, his avoiding them? Playing the game with the family?
10. Rebecca ‘s telling him that the title of his television entertainment program came from Polish, the phrase used by the Germans rounding up the Jews and urging them on, Dalli Dalli, hurry up?
11. The buildup to the day, the comic suit, his listening to the chancellor’s speech on television, the impact, his moods, the young man and the changes, his coming out to the group, his apology, the show going on?
12. The impact of the flashbacks, Hans with his young brother and the disappearance from the dormitory, the medical tests, the work, his escape, the woman, her giving him shelter, surviving the war, the officer coming in and hands hiding under the bed? Kristallnacht and the attack on the shop, burning, broken glass? His memories and the impact?
13. The aftermath, his writing the book, with his grandson – and his explanation that he write his two lives?