Actually, the new “crime scene” from Vienna should bear the name of a legendary Austrian Chancellor. Then Russia invades Ukraine – and the general hopelessness also affects the title.
Bruno Kreisky. For many Austrians, especially the social-democratic ones, the name stands for better times like no other. From 1970 onwards, as Austrian Chancellor, Kreisky shook off the mustiness of the post-war years with his policies: the opening of the education system, equal opportunities, the right to abortion and homosexuality, and socially just redistribution made a lasting impression on Austrians, as did the fact that Kreisky’s private number was in the public telephone book .
The former chancellor, who died in 1990, also employed former National Socialists in his government, accused Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal of “mafia methods” and – despite his own Jewish roots – repeatedly acted anti-Semitically. Nevertheless, for many Austrians, Kreisky is and remains simply one thing because of the country’s politics, which tend to be felt and scandalous: legendary. So it makes sense to call a Viennese “crime scene” on the subject of greed for profit, the dehumanization of the labor market and general social upheaval “Kreisky is dead”.
At least that was the working title of the film that was conceived in Corona times. Against the background of the current crisis(s), the script not only deals with the excesses of turbo-capitalism, but also with other kinds of forlornness: transience in general, dementia in particular. As a starting point already bleak enough. Then shortly before shooting began on March 14, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine – and “Kreisky is dead” became “What kind of a world is that”.
One can read this somewhat confusing “crime scene” in many different ways if one has the leisure. The change of title definitely fits the self-imposed claim of the crime series to always be a mirror of the social mood and the soul of the people. The title of the film is appropriately an IT specialist who chokes on his own ambitions: “What kind of world is it in which someone like me is being pushed into a murder?” the man asks, terribly larmoyant.
In an interview, Adele Neuhauser, who plays Commissioner Fellner in the film, explains that things can be done differently: “Like so many people, I’m very worried about the kind of world we’re leaving our little ones. But I don’t want to be so worried about theirs Losing hope in the future. Because only if we keep hope and trust in reason high will we give the younger generation a strong basis to be able to get through difficult times. Things will get better again.”
(This article was first published on Sunday, February 26, 2023.)