Crime scene: Bienzle and the man in the dark

Episode of the series Tatort
Original title	Bienzle and the man in the dark
Country of production	Germany
original language	German
Production ; company	SWR
length	88 minutes
classification	Episode 439 ( List )
First broadcast	March 26, 2000 on First German Television
Rod
Director	Dieter Schlotterbeck
script	Martina Brand
production	Rolf Steinacker
music	Markus Lonardoni
camera	Marc Liesendahl
cut	Christiane Krafft-Hegemann
occupation
	Dietz-Werner Steck : Ernst Bienzle ; Rüdiger Wandel : Günter Gächter; Christian Berkel : Erik Steinbeck; Tatjana Blacher : Jessica Steinbeck; Walter Kreye : Henry Steinbeck; Sven Thiemann : Thomas Knop; Janina Flieger : Sandra Steinbeck; Christof Arnold : Stefan Steinbeck; Sandra Borgmann : Claudia Adam; Rita Russek : Hannelore Schmiedinger; Achim Bendix : Bendix, production manager; Christoph Grunert : Marco Strauss; Stephan Korves : Mr. Södermann, bodyguard; Annika Murjahn : Annika Rosenberger, sister of Jessica Steinbeck; Elert Bode : Chief of Police;

Bienzle and the Man in the Dark is an episode of the crime series Tatort . The first broadcast of the report produced by Südwestrundfunk took place on March 26, 2000 on First German Television . It is the 439th episode in the film series and the eleventh with the Stuttgart inspector Ernst Bienzle.

action

A man who smokes observes a Porsche leaving the garage of a bungalow at night. He opens the closed gate and drives into the garage in an off-road vehicle with a Frankfurt license plate. In the meantime, Sandra Steinbeck tries to reach her friend Marco Strauss by phone. Her father had forbidden contact with him. He's in a celebratory mood on the terrace and watches gigantic fireworks with his wife Jessica and brother Henry. The smoker comes into Sandra's room masked and indicates to her to be quiet. Then he stuns and ties her up. Her cries for help were heard by a bather in the swimming pool who rushes to help. She is brutally kicked in the face. It is about Annika Rosenberger, who was visiting her sister, Jessica Steinbeck. She did not survive the attack.

Jessica Steinbeck and her husband Erik assume an accident. Chief Detective Bienzle has to inform them that outside influence was involved. This makes the two of them even more restless because Sandra has disappeared.

The next morning Erik Steinbeck received a video message by email , which shows the kidnapped Sandra and which, according to Erik Steinbeck, contains an alleged monetary claim. He discusses the situation with his brother. The two clash. Jessica Steinbeck informs Bienzle about the kidnapping. Then Erik Steinbeck is called by Marco Strauss. During the interrogation, he admits to having called, but only because he was worried about Sandra. He was also dismissed as a customer advisor three months ago together with Stefan Steinbeck. It is also interesting that Sandra should take over the company instead of Stefan Steinbeck.

Erik Steinbeck finally admits to his wife that five years earlier he had delivered centrifuges for poison gas production to Rwanda . The kidnapping should be used as leverage to resume deliveries. Steinbecks demand a sign of life from their daughter. During the call, she can escape for the time being and tell the police her possible whereabouts. That means: large-scale operation!

The police helicopter can identify the SUV, but comes too close to the vehicle. In the Hammelberg tunnel, the kidnapper can escape through the emergency exit. The face mask found worsens the situation for Sandra. The parents are beside themselves. A fairly accurate phantom image can be made by a witness . This leads very quickly to the kidnapping site, the karate club, and to Stefan Steinbeck. Bienzle then speaks directly to Henry Steinbeck about his son's motives for revenge. He reveals the jovial and nothing.

Erik Steinbeck complies with the delivery request, but the whereabouts of his daughter is still completely unclear. Then it turns out that it wasn't about the centrifuge delivery to Kigali , but about family matters. Henry Steinbeck, the mastermind behind Sandra's kidnapping, is now being forced by the kidnapper to pay more than the agreed amount. The handover should take place at the Killesberg Messe underground station. Sandra is of course not there. Steinbeck is overwhelmed and Tom, the kidnapper, runs into the underground tunnel with the suitcase. He is run over there. Sandra is saved by her father in a dramatic situation.

reception

Audience rating

The first broadcast of Bienzle and the Man in the Dark was watched by 6.99 million viewers when it first aired on March 26, 2000, which equated to a market share of 19.0 percent.

criticism

The critics of the television magazine TV Spielfilm highlight Christian Berkel . Conclusion:

"The well-played film is gaining momentum."

- TV movie

Joachim Schmitz from the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung is not only relieved that the viewer is largely spared from Bienza and Hannelore's relationship, but also puts Martina Brand's first-class script at the center of his criticism: