Original subtitles

Wow.

You're wearing my necklace.

What's that?

Kida?

Modern art? This is a living room.

When someone goes to the toilet, we get to listen?

Look at that!

First time I see this. Really. It's a misunderstanding.

I said to install the pipe in the shaft. There was a plan and everything.

But how is it my fault if they do it differently?

- It's not my fault. - It never is. It's always someone else.

Construction workers, police, the press...

Always someone else. Own up to it when you mess up.

Can't we put a drywall here?

We'll just install a toilet next to the living room, so it's close by.

- You look great. - Kida, you said you'd take care of it.

Instead, you got busted by customs. Will we ever move in here?

Sure we will. We'll make it really nice.

We'll install red curtains so no one can look in.

Hey, Karo...

Please let me sleep at home again. Let me in.

I can't stand that Marius any longer.

I see him every day. I'm really not well, Karo. Please.

Please, Karo, look at me.

I need your strength. I need you.

I haven't slept this well in years.

You rob me of my strength.

Are those for me?

Why don't you sleep here? Lots of space to stretch out.

Karo.

Let me back in.

Soon. Okay?

It's important to me

that you create a complex, natural portrait of the producer.

Not that old cliché of a greedy producer who's only after money.

No, the producer dedicates himself to the idea, the cause, the film,

and behaves responsibly or sometimes cool.

We'd rather stay in the background, as it's a documentary.

An authentic documentary.

You do have to turn on the camera for that though.

Don't wait. Always film everything.

Always keep it running. Eyes on the prize.

That's the thing. Don't stand and watch.

Even here on the set of Beethoven,

we rethought everything.

Did you know that it's quite likely

that Beethoven was a little black?

Yo!

- I'm here with the costume. - Yo.

TEDDY TECLEBRHAN COMEDIAN AND ACTOR WHO CAN ACTUALLY ACT

Hello. Good morning.

I'm Alberto, your assistant.

- I would like to mic you up, please. - Yeah.

- Can I leave my socks on? - We need to try the wig, okay?

Hello.

- Did you bring the socks too? - Yes.

No!

- It's me, Heike. - No!

Okay. See you on set.

No!

Josephine von Brunsvik was Beethoven's immortal beloved.

He did everything to prove that he could provide for her.

Without me, he wouldn't have been so creative,

because he channeled that longing pain into his art.

Then why am I just sitting at the piano? It makes no sense.

But it's really about the extra, Abdullah.

- It's not about Josephine. - What?

That wasn't the deal. I don't do guest roles.

- I thought I was the lead. - Lea, we were very clear about that.

- Haven't you seen "Extras?" - No, that's not...

And what about him? I know Joseph Müller was older.

But he's not in his late 40s. He must be 70.

I can't imagine my Josephine being with him.

He's the producer.

I know. We're just sitting here waiting.

I'll play the lead in the next project then.

Okay, Heike, everyone's ready and waiting for you.

- Let's not discuss every little detail. - Fine. See you, Lea.

- Kida... - Yes?

It would be great

if you didn't question my authority in front of my actress.

I'll make the announcements. I'm allergic to that kind of thing.

Sorry, but we have five scenes left and we haven't done anything in two hours.

That's what happens when actors try to be producers.

Let's shift up a gear!

- Where is my Beethoven? - There he is.

Bravo!

What is he doing?

Teddy? Teddy. Great performance, bro.

- Heike, let's start. Lea, get up. - Did you just film that?

Bro, we haven't even started. Get up. We don't have time. Yallah .

I always lose it there.

I don't know why.

It's because of your fingering.

You have to play the F with your ring finger

and follow with the thumb,

or your hand is wrongly placed for the run after.

Could you play it again?

You'll have to give me a little more room.

Abdullah, cue door!

Let's keep going until the end of the scene.

Josephine!

You're still practicing? Joseph is here.

Mon coeur , come greet us.

Oh!

Luigi from Bonn?

My beloved told me all about you.

My beloved told me all about you!

- Ludwig von Beethoven. - Yes, I know!

You artists are always in need of money!

Why don't you show us some of your skills...

A sample of your skills!

And cut! This is where Abdullah would intentionally slam Teddy's hands.

Who is responsible for the stunt coordination around here?

- Yo, that's me! This is Matze. - Hello.

Our stunt double.

He's the only stunt man in Germany who is also a trained pianist.

- Bro, where did you study? - Hanns Eisler.

Right, the Hanns Eisler Hochschule.

Sorry, but what the hell is this? No way. We can't do that.

Blackhanding? Here, on my set?

Absolutely not.

We don't have to discuss it, Kida.

You really messed up.

Or are you fine with it, Teddy? What do you think?

Show me both.

Okay, that's not on.

Heike, you're right. I agree right away. No matter what you say, you're right.

I don't want to point fingers at anyone.

But Tarkan, that was such a shitty idea. I'm pissed, you little jerk.

Listen, Tarkan, you know very well that Teddy plays Beethoven.

Where did you get that idea?

You said one stunt man is cheaper than two.

There's no one else. At least no black guy.

Yeah, but I can't say that here.

Don't listen to me. You know how I am when I'm stressed.

You can't do that, man!

Okay, well...

Matze, you go and wash your hands.

We'll push the stunt back

until our super producers have found a suitable double.

Besides, look at those hands. One hand is as big as one of my thighs.

- Was Beethoven a lumberjack? - Okay, man.

Hey, Teddy, I apologize to you too.

The piano has to go back to the store tomorrow,

so we'll solve that problem.

But we still have one very big and important problem, racism.

That's why, Tarkan, I would like you to apologize to the whole team.

And to Color of People, or what's it called? People of Color.

Apologize now. Please.

I want to apologize to everyone for my stupid mistake.

- Teddy, bro... - He's not your brother.

Teddy, especially to People of Colors. I'm sorry.

- Do you accept? - Why?

He's asking why.

Because I'm sorry.

I'm... I'm really holding back right now.

Did you see his hands? Those were paws.

One of his fingers would press down five keys.

- I thought it would fit. - Okay, bro. It's fine.

- Kida, it was your idea. - What?

- It was your fucking idea. - What are you talking about?

Tarkan, tell them what really happened.

You wanted to paint his hands to save money.

"Producer's decision".

- Is that right? - Tarkan, tell them it was your idea.

What are you on about, Leo?

- Defend yourself. - Tarkan?

- Yes, it was my idea. - You put up with it?

We're leaving.

- We're leaving. - I'm staying.

Fine, stay then.

Stop it. Don't do that again.

And that's why I don't like set visits. It's such nonsense, Teddy.

Please do me a favor and just do the stunt yourself.

I shut the lid, you pull your hands away, all good.

I won't do it. My tour begins in two weeks.

Please, do me a favor. Or it'll cost me a lot of money.

Please.

I'll do it.

But only because I want this Black Beethoven theory to be known, okay?

It needs to be heard.

Bravo.

Now that's what I call a statement.

Let's do a run-through. Marius, please put your phone away.

You give the cue, then the music starts,

you play for 15 seconds,

and then the stunt follows.

And, please.

Luigi, why don't you show us a sample of your skills?

Music, go.

One, two, three, four.

Seven, eight, nine.

10.

12.

13, 14, 15.

Yes! Just like that. Well done.

- Okay, it works. - It's close.

Let's film the next one.

Everyone knows what they're doing?

Let's get ready to shoot.

Um, Teddy, one more thing.

First of all...

I really owe you one.

I'm sorry about what just happened.

- Twitter? - Yes.

"Headmaster says Kida Ramadan tries to circumcise children."

- What? - Look!

Can you leave me alone for a minute, please?

You mean you want me to make it all a little funnier?

I don't want to typecast you, but...

But it's a dramatic scene. It doesn't make any sense.

I want to make the geniuses...

a little bit less unapproachable, maybe you could try an accent.

CIRCUMCISION FOR MONEY?

Beethoven came from Bonn, so perhaps...

4 BLOCKS FOR REAL!

You want me to speak with a Rhenish accent?

ENOUGH!CANCELKIDA

"Oh! Look at that!

I'm Black Beethoven.

Look! A piano!

Brunsvick!

A piano!

Brunsvick!

Shall we go ride our bikes together?"

See? It dilutes the whole Black Beethoven theory.

You can't take it seriously. "Oh, oh, it's Black Beethoven!

I'm Black Beethoven.

Black Power, Black Beethoven!"

Okay.

Just give me something.

All right. Have fun. Everyone back to starting positions.

Starting positions!

- Attention! - 7-1, take 1.

Set.

Kida! Phone!

Sorry.

Fake director, and please.

Everyone to starting positions.

- Please. - And, camera!

- Camera running. - 7-1, take 1.

Music. Please!

Oh, God! Teddy!

Fuck! My hands!

- Kida? - I'm sorry.

- Anyone have a tissue? - You didn't get a cue!

Teddy!

Heike, I'm sorry. It was an accident.

An accident that costs Teddy weeks of touring.

And that's not all, Kida.

Let's put all the facts on the table.

Child circumcision, involvement with the Veseli clan,

SWAT interventions, and now blackhanding on my set.

Reputations were ruined for less.

- You know it's ridiculous. - It's too risky for me.

I have to distance myself from you.

Purely professionally, I mean.

- It's nothing personal. - But Heike...

When things get difficult, you can't just give up.

Sorry, but this is not a discussion.

But Heike...

You said yourself that it's a great opportunity.

A second career and all that.

Because at the age of 50, you women stop getting proper roles and all that.

Do you want to just play stepmothers now?

Those were your words.

- Sorry. - Listen carefully, Kida.

I've been successful in this business for 25 years now.

Let's see you do that first. Not to mention you.

I don't need you two. I'm done here.

Heike,

I know it's often not easy with Kida.

It's probably his Arabic background.

But I've got a handle on it.

And no matter what people say,

you still look great for your age and you can play anything.

Who said I can't?

You know, people. Here and there.

But that shouldn't interest you. You mustn't care.

And I have to hand it to you. You have a knack for directing.

And...

I think you're still attractive. Those bright eyes...

Wait a minute.

Are you hitting on me?

No, no, I...

I was just trying to cheer you up. I want to make you laugh.

Do I look like I'm laughing?

Who are they anyway? What are they filming?

They're...

They're making a portrait about me. "Meet Your Genius".

Do you know what I think of you, Marius?

I think you're pathetic.

- You'll cut that out, okay? - Of course.

We'll make a really nice portrait.

I'm sure she didn't mean it like that.

I think she did.

Marius, now we lost our director.

Do you know what Tom said the other day? You are your own best director.

Yes, but let's focus on production.

Confidence and looking good, that's all it takes?

No, it's... I mean...

Kida? Kida?

Tell me, are you avoiding me or what?

- Hi, Katrin. No, I'm not. - Fine.

Because you promised you'd call me. Remember?

Guess what I just heard. You asked Teddy! Teddy's in!

Why? Why Teddy? Because he has more followers?

This isn't a good time for that, okay?

No. Just tell me if you don't want me in it.

I mean, I can handle that. But what I can't handle is cowardly men.

I hate that. Just tell me you think I suck.

- No, I think you're great. - No, Kida!

You go around telling everyone they're great,

but you know what?

You don't mean it at all. That makes me really sad.

Guess why. Because I actually like you.

Katrin, I like you too. Really.

She's a real power woman.

We'll need a new director or they'll cancel our project.

We're liable for the costs, Marius.

- The bank will cover us. - Sure.

First you throw up over three euros, and now you're confident?

To be successful, you have to let go of your fears.

There are plenty of other directors.

- Gin tonic? - No, I want to eat something.

Man, an empty fridge. No Coke zero...

- No light... - Nothing in it?

Excuse me, who are you?

Mother!

- That's your mother? - I'm afraid so.

That sociopath may be the only flaw in my life.

Mrs. Kirchhoff, let me apologize to you.

I kiss the ground you walk on. That bonehead.

What's wrong with you? He told me you're invalid.

- You look fit as a fiddle! - The doctors agree.

I have to admit, Marius...

Nice try.

The house is still in my name, though.

Well, that's just...

- We're one family. - Out!

Both of you.

Now.

I'll put it this way, the situation is not tip-top.

It's a pity about Heike. Very sad about Teddy.

It's never easy to watch a team fall apart like that.

And that damn shitstorm.

Sabine,

team members are replaceable.

But the creative core is still there.

The showrunners are sitting in front of you, here.

Did you see the first sample? The concept totally works.

I couldn't watch it yet.

I was in Locarno for a week, then I had a bad cold

and then I had to take five days off work.

I only came in today. That's why I was caught off guard.

The last thing we need right now are shitstorms.

Have you thought about your reaction to the accusations?

Hey! Your backs are against the wall.

Let's just fall with our backs through the wall.

I don't have to think about anything. And I won't go through any walls either.

I'm innocent.

Sabine, I thought about that.

Kida needs to take a clear positive step,

into the public sphere.

With nothing less than a big TV interview

where he presents his version of the truth.

Marius, what are you rambling about? My version is the only version.

I did nothing wrong.

Kida, the public doesn't care about the truth,

but about the perceived truth.

It's an excellent idea, Kida.

- What? - We need to move quickly.

If you go on Kurt's show, I'm sure we can save the project.

- And Kida, just stay relaxed... - Hey, hey, hey!

Kida! Welcome.

- Had a good trip? - Sure. All good.

I'm glad you're here.

- Thanks for having us short notice. - We had Teddy yesterday.

Exhausting. Can't wait to have you. Listen, I have a new camera.

I'm into photography. Can I make a little portrait after?

Sure, bro. Anything for you.

Kida, your glasses!

- Looks intellectual. - Stick to the script.

- Less gangster-like. - Okay then.

As we discussed, not too much family.

We'll do it as discussed.

- Ready? - We go live in 10...

- 9, 8... - Can we start?

- 7, 6... - Take it easy, Marius.

- 5, 4... - Nice to see an idea come true.

Kida Ramadan. Welcome to "Krömer Spezial".

Nice to be here. Thank you.

"Kida Ramadan: Part of a Berlin clan".

"'4 Blocks' star, gangster in real life too?"

"The child circumciser,

how Kida Ramadan offered me money to circumcise me."

"He called my penis a Mercedes convertible."

Kida, what I'd like to know is, what does it do to a person,

having to read stuff like that in the press?

For me, the worst thing is when my family, my wife, my children,

have to read these lies in the press.

That hurts.

- It's a shitty feeling, isn't it? - Absolutely.

The biggest outrage is that these people who write that filth and those lies

make money with it.

They make money with it!

Kida, it is also true that the hashtag "CancelKida"

is trending in first place on all social media.

You lost 40,000 followers on Insta.

That means 40,000 fans

all hit the button to unfollow you.

They all hop on the bandwagon. That's normal. It's a chain reaction.

They're hypocrites to me.

Many colleagues and friends have publicly distanced themselves from you.

Sascha Geršak, Heike Makatsch, Tom Schilling, Teddy Teclebrhan.

Are you afraid for your future?

No, I'm not afraid for my future.

But Kurt, listen...

He who does not know the truth is a fool.

He's just stupid.

But he who knows the truth...

and twists it...

is a criminal.

Brecht said that, not me.

Of course I'm not super perfect.

I'm no angel.

But I'll tell you one thing,

which anyone who knows me well can confirm.

My heart is pure.

Kida, we were sent a recording.

I won't say anything. We'll listen first. Roll the tape.

It's 50,000 euros. That's your children's future.

You get what you pay for. Your words.

It's just like with the builders!

- Sabine, what the hell? - A dead illegal worker in our flat!

Hey, I tried to help him.

- He was old and needed money. - He's dead, Kida!

- May he rest in peace. - I'm leaving.

- No, no, no! - It took me an hour to get him out!

- You hear me? - Kurt, we discussed this.

We can't just let it go.

That's my wife's voice. Everyone will notice.

She doesn't want that shit.

Viewer ratings, dude.

Right.

That was a private conversation. Pity it was recorded.

Kida, illegal workers,

50,000 euros from somewhere, a corpse in the flat.

That doesn't sound like a pure heart to me.

To me, that sounds like Toni Hamady.

Kida, let me ask you again,

are you a criminal?

Kurt...

Toni Hamady...

is a character in a TV series.

I'm Kida Khodr Ramadan. I'm an actor.

I'm a family man.

I have feelings too. I'm human.

Everyone needs to understand that.

Toni Hamady was an act.

Listen, they can write what they like.

Let them destroy me and drag me through the mud.

But there's one thing they can't do,

and that's dragging my family out into the public.

It's private.

People I love must not suffer.

That's a crime, man.

Hey, come in.