"Krauses Geheimnis" or "Krause's Secret" is a German television movie from 2014, so this one is already over five years old. Like most other small screen releases in my country, it runs for 1.5 hours and the writer and director here is Bernd Böhllich. This is no coincidence because this is one of many Krause films, number 4 of 8 I believe, and Böhlich is a regular when it comes to those. In fact, he has not directed anything else since 2014 and before that he also worked a lot on long-running television show "Polizeiruf 110" and this is probably the most known project from actor Horst Krause's career. Also it is a pretty unique trademark for him that he plays a character with the same name in these movies. Critics may say it emphasizes that he has a tendency to play the same character in all his works, also when he shows up as Paul Krüger, but regardless of this being true or not, it shows that he has massive recognition value and also that he is a highly authentic actor. I like him, there is no point in denying I do. I probably would have enjoyed this film less with another lead actor. By the way, I am a bit surprised to see he is almost 80 now, was almost 75t back when this was made. He does look younger, also younger than the actress who plays his sister. I am talking about Carmen-Maja Antoni. Not too many will know the name I guess. But it is pretty unique that she received awards recognition here even, for a film that is a third sequel and mostly comedy. Highly unusual. Well, she was alright, but I assume that she was not awards-worthy and it was a bit much. It's still a decent film. The popularity of these Krause films is also shown by the cast. That they got actors like Schüttauf, Haberland, Schmidt and Prückner in here. All of them had success on the big screen as well.
I was not entirely on over early on and judging only from the first 45 minutes or so, I probably would have given four stars only because it takes a while to get going, but the second half was improved and good enough for me to say the movie deserves the six and the positive recommendation that comes with it. Still, here and there you saw the usual Degeto flaws like for example how Schüttauf's character does not only come to meet his father, but also has to enter into a romantic relationship at the same time there. Or how really everybody was into Haberlandt's character. Come on, she is not that amazing. Or also how Schüttauf's character is out of the picture at the very end again because they probably knew they won't get him to reappears in future films that were certainly safe to come. They knew it already. Or also how the old brother and sister out of nowhere decide to go on a plane for a holiday. I mean if they never flew before, then this would be a challenge that needed months of preparation and, besides, they do not exactly seem like folks who book stuff like that on the internet one day before the flight. A bit abrupt there. But the scene at the airport was complete comedy gold with how they had no clue about what was going on, what they were allowed to take twith them etc. Hilarious stuff. Easily the film's highlight for me and maybe without this airport sequence and the helplessness of the duo, I would not have given 6 stars out of 10 here. Anyway, they return and the fatherhood story becomes really relevant. I also liked from the story perspective how they questioned the entire idea, but then a letter shows that it is real. One thing i found a bit sad as Andreas Schmidt, maybe also because of how much his character was struggling (he usually plays those), but the actor also did not look too healthy to me. Maybe it is jjust wrong perception because I know about his death, but it cannot be all due to his lankiness. He was really really thin. Oh well, let's end the review on a more positive note: It as a fine little movie, also delivered dramatically here and there and when Krause makes his short speech about Schmidt's character near the end, it also has a moment of really good acting. I give these almost 90 minutes a thumbs-up and from what I have seen here, i will certainly check out other Krause films eventually. I also really liked how they brought back some of the key characters from the previous film(s) at the very end when the entire gang indeed travels together and this time it worked out. It was really nice for fans of the previous films to see the other folks again. Kinda charming and it helps definitely that it as set in Pars because I am somewhat fascinated by this city. Okay, this is all then. I watched this film without having seen (or I don't remember) any of the other fiilms that were produced before this one here, but that is perfectly fine. This one is easy to enjoy anyway and there is no need to watch them chronologically. You can do so, but you don't have to. You will understand everything for sure either way. The important thing is that you go for it.
I was not entirely on over early on and judging only from the first 45 minutes or so, I probably would have given four stars only because it takes a while to get going, but the second half was improved and good enough for me to say the movie deserves the six and the positive recommendation that comes with it. Still, here and there you saw the usual Degeto flaws like for example how Schüttauf's character does not only come to meet his father, but also has to enter into a romantic relationship at the same time there. Or how really everybody was into Haberlandt's character. Come on, she is not that amazing. Or also how Schüttauf's character is out of the picture at the very end again because they probably knew they won't get him to reappears in future films that were certainly safe to come. They knew it already. Or also how the old brother and sister out of nowhere decide to go on a plane for a holiday. I mean if they never flew before, then this would be a challenge that needed months of preparation and, besides, they do not exactly seem like folks who book stuff like that on the internet one day before the flight. A bit abrupt there. But the scene at the airport was complete comedy gold with how they had no clue about what was going on, what they were allowed to take twith them etc. Hilarious stuff. Easily the film's highlight for me and maybe without this airport sequence and the helplessness of the duo, I would not have given 6 stars out of 10 here. Anyway, they return and the fatherhood story becomes really relevant. I also liked from the story perspective how they questioned the entire idea, but then a letter shows that it is real. One thing i found a bit sad as Andreas Schmidt, maybe also because of how much his character was struggling (he usually plays those), but the actor also did not look too healthy to me. Maybe it is jjust wrong perception because I know about his death, but it cannot be all due to his lankiness. He was really really thin. Oh well, let's end the review on a more positive note: It as a fine little movie, also delivered dramatically here and there and when Krause makes his short speech about Schmidt's character near the end, it also has a moment of really good acting. I give these almost 90 minutes a thumbs-up and from what I have seen here, i will certainly check out other Krause films eventually. I also really liked how they brought back some of the key characters from the previous film(s) at the very end when the entire gang indeed travels together and this time it worked out. It was really nice for fans of the previous films to see the other folks again. Kinda charming and it helps definitely that it as set in Pars because I am somewhat fascinated by this city. Okay, this is all then. I watched this film without having seen (or I don't remember) any of the other fiilms that were produced before this one here, but that is perfectly fine. This one is easy to enjoy anyway and there is no need to watch them chronologically. You can do so, but you don't have to. You will understand everything for sure either way. The important thing is that you go for it.
