Sebastian Koch: No after-work beer with Tom Schilling? That's behind it!
With "Werk ohne Autor", director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (45, "The Lives of Others") returns to the Oscars. On October 3, the film will be released in German cinemas. Sebastian Koch (56, "Bridge of Spies") plays a "monster" in it, as he describes his character Professor Carl Seeband himself. In an interview with news agency spot on news, the actor explains why it was "a lot of fun" to play him. In addition, Koch reveals why he and his co-star Tom Schilling (36, "Oh Boy") have renounced the common after-work beer.
Mr. Koch, "Work without Author" is your second film with Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. How was the renewed cooperation?
Sebastian Koch: It's nice to know someone so well. To do that again in this constellation is great and wonderful.
Did you notice any changes compared to "The Lives of Others"? Does Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck work differently now than back then?
Sebastian Koch: Yes, he is ten years older. (laughs) But he does not handle things differently. He is a very thorough and subtle person. We still have a lot of trust in each other. It is very special how he creates a space in which one can move confidently and create something.
How did you get involved with "Werk ohne Autor"?
Sebastian Koch: I was involved in the project relatively early. Before he started writing, he already told me the story. I immediately found it very exciting and suitable for him. I did not hesitate to say yes. When I finally read the script, I was thrilled with this exciting and thoughtful story. In addition, my character is extremely sexy acting.
How would you describe your character, Professor Carl Seeband?
Sebastian Koch: When he enters the room, the temperature drops by two degrees, everyone feels and knows that he is there. He has decided that no one will have more power over him to never again be a victim. This is firmly anchored in the structure of this person. And of course that has consequences, because that's something you can only sustain if you're extremely controlled and in control. Intuition, feelings, empathy, he keeps all that away with incredible intelligence and perfection.
What irritated you about the figure?
Sebastian Koch: To understand what drives him. He has to withstand enormous pressure. He is not a tender person, but rather lonely and steeped in this ideology and the deep belief that what he is doing is right. There's nothing else. Similar to a chess player who calculates three or four moves in advance and is prepared for everything. He always wants and has to win.
With Kurt Barnert, who is played by Tom Schilling, he obviously did not expect.
Sebastian Koch: Carl Seeband completely underestimated this artist. He did not take his strength seriously and did not see it coming. He tries everything to destroy this man and keep out of the life of his daughter, simply because he finds him weak and uninteresting. But the way Kurt Barnert deals with it is amazing. He absorbs these negative energies, processes them and grows on them. If, at the end, Seeband realizes that he is inferior to this person, that is the maximum punishment for him. He could endure any prison with the help of discipline, but he does not know how to lose. His world collapses completely.
How did you feel about working with Tom Schilling?
Sebastian Koch: Not liking Tom Schilling does not work. He is a fine spirit and the ideal cast for Kurt Barnert. During the filming we met almost exclusively in our roles. There was no common after-work beer. I believe that was intuitive. And that was a good thing.
What do you mean?
Sebastian Koch: I could not turn this switch off and on. He goes through life like a scalpel, razor-sharp. He wears suits like a uniform without a fold. He uses language as a weapon and thus destroys his counterpart. He is full of self-control in everything he does and says. I, however, fidget around and move a lot. It was not always easy to maintain this without slipping into a caricature and not falling out of character. When I see him on the screen, I can barely recognize myself. Still, it was a lot of fun to be so busy with this monster.
How was it for you, at the world premiere in Venice, to watch the movie for the first time with an audience?
Sebastian Koch: It's always an extremely exciting situation.The first time in front of a large audience, and of course we were very curious how the film arrives. And how happy we were when we felt that the whole hall was highly concentrated and every little nuance was there. It was laughed and cried, it was highly emotional. And in the end they hugged us in the form of standing ovations for a few minutes. It's nice to put so much work into something and then see it, people deal with it and like it. That's great.
What does it mean to you that "Werk ohne Autor" is going to Oscar for Germany?
Sebastian Koch: It's wonderful that German Films nominated us. The competition was great with "The Silent Classroom", "Balloon" and "The Captain", these are great movies. That makes us very proud and happy. Now, of course, everything is possible and we are very curious to see how far this journey will take us.
