The Deathmaker

In August 1924, the Privy Councillor Prof. Dr. Ernst Schultze was commissioned to examine the serial killer Fritz Haarmann in order to draw up a psychiatric report that would provide information about Haarmann's sanity. Haarmann, a merchant, was accused of murdering, dismembering, and in some cases eating 24 young men in Hanover. Based on the transcripts of the conversations between Schultze and Haarmann, the chamber-play-like film, set in just one room, traces the course of the investigation. The texts of the conversation protocols are faithfully reproduced.


Producer: Peter Herrmann, Thomas Schühly
Director: Romuald Karmakar
Screenplay: Romuald Karmakar, Michael Farin
Camera: Fred Schuler
Editing: Peter Przygodda


Cast:

Götz George: Fritz Haarmann
Jürgen Hentsch: Prof. Dr. Ernst Schultze
Pierre Franckh: Stenograf
Hans-Michael Rehberg: Kommissar Rätz
Matthias Fuchs: Dr. Machnik
Marek Harloff: Fürsorgezögling Kress
Christian Honhold: Wärter Schweimler
Rainer Feisthorn: Arzt


Prices (selection:)

Oscarselection 1997 for best foreign film.
"Coppa Volpi" Biennale di Venezia 1995 - Best Actor: Götz George
Bavarian Film Award 1995 - Best Actor: Götz George
Hessian Film Award 1995 - Best Director: Romuald Karmakar
Film ribbon in Gold 1995 - Best Film: Romuald Karmakar
Film ribbon in Gold 1995 - Best Director: Romuald Karmakar
Film ribbon in Gold 1995 - Best Actor: Götz George