Der Tangospieler

With works such as “Horns Ende” (1985) or most recently “Unterm Staub der Zeit” (2023), Christoph Hein counts among the most important literary chroniclers of East Germany. To coincide with his 80th birthday on April 8th, the DEFA Foundation is dedicating a film evening to the writer and presenting DER TANGOSPIELER by Roland Gräf, which was adapted from Hein’s story of the same name, which was already published in 1988 and tackled themes taboo in East Germany.   

With a scrawly signature, historian and occasional pianist Dr. Hans-Peter Dallow signs his name at the bottom of the release papers. It is an effort for him to acknowledge his identity. He was in prison for 21 months because he accompanied a provocative cabaret program with the tango “Adiós muchachos”. Will he be reintegrated into East Germany society? Michael Gwisdek gives an outstanding performance as the torn, contradictory anti-hero in a film marked by irony and sarcasm. East Germany reality seldom becomes so real in a fiction film as here. (Philip Zengel)